Mountaineater's debut album certainly lives up to the promise of the Dunedin band's moniker.

  • Mountaineater. Self-titled. Banished From The Universe.
    4 stars out of 5.

Gargantuan, bruising and cathartic are a few words that immediately spring to mind when attempting to wrestle a description of this set of songs from guitarist-singer Tristan Dingemans, drummer Chris Livingston and Anaru Ngata (bass and guitar).

Yet there is also plenty of subtlety at play here, too, particularly in the spaces between Dingeman's sonic squalls. Working with Dale Cotton, the trio have pulled off the difficult act of mixing occasional cinematic beauty with blistering, uncompromising flourishes.

Single download: Ch'an Ra
For those who like: Shellac, Bailter Space

- Shane Gilchrist