Band:	Mountainscape
Album:	Iridescent
Style:	Instrumental, Post-metal
Release date:	June 07, 2024
Guest review by:	Blackcrowe

01. Belonging
02. Towering Monoliths
03. Astrium
04. Ignis
05. Iridescent

The Iridescent Mountain.

The UK post-metal trio Mountainscape has released their latest album, Iridescent. The band includes Dan Scrivener (guitar), Ethan Bishop (bass), and James Scrivener (drums). Their music is instrumental post-metal, mixing elements of post-rock, black metal, doom, sludge, jazz and progressive styles. Their sound sometimes feels like a dark film score.

Mountainscape was formed by the Scrivener brothers, Dan and James, who have played together in various bands since their teenage years, mainly in black metal bands. During the pandemic, they decided to create a band that reflected their inspirations of landscapes and the outdoors, crafting a sound that captures those environments, surrounded by fantasy and dark stories.

Their latest album, Iridescent, is a mix of atmospheric soundscapes and powerful intensity. Known for their instrumental skill, Mountainscape in five tracks of 42 minutes apply those skills to a journey that combines ethereal, ambient passages, and heavy riffs into a cohesive experience.

Iridescent adeptly balances light and dark. Tracks like “Towering Monoliths” show the band’s ability to create an intense, heavy atmosphere without losing their emotional depth, while “Astrium” offers calm, abstract moments that evoke the feeling of watching stars fade into the night. The careful use of effects takes the guitar to the land of keyboards, the drumming keeps every moment engaging, and the great work of the bass from Ethan solidifies the ethereal; additionally, Ethan Bishop makes outstanding work of mixing the record.

"Ignis" in my opinion is the best song. At about eleven minutes, it explores the full range of Mountainscape’s sound. The song flows between haunting ambient sections and powerful climaxes, creating a sense of tension and release.

Mountainscape is about creating the music they want to hear, a blend of simple but intricate melodies, and the contrast between soft and metal. The transitions are a key part of their songwriting, keeping their music original and interesting. I’ve been listening to a lot of instrumental acts like Animals As Leaders, but after 2 or 3 songs, I start to get bored. That hasn’t happened with Mountainscape; their sound is very ethereal, closer to prog masters Ozric Tentacles but with a metallic treatment.

I enjoy Iridescent both at low volume for sharing a conversation and at high volume, where you can appreciate every detail and maybe even find yourself banging your head along with the music.