One wouldn't normally expect black metal to come out of China. However, when a person brings all of the beautiful, natural elements of the region to mind, they can't help but marvel at the serene landscapes. In the truest essence of the sense, black metal really comes from an inner feeling, which is why it has been associated with emotion; sometimes more so than aggression. While many artist of the genre attribute their inspirations to nature, the perspective individual's should never dismiss various regions of the globe; as if not capable of yielding similar results.
Deep Mountains have truly captured the essence of nature in their self titled EP. Although being labeled as black metal, many natural elements can be found; such as the soft rainfall found in the acoustic intro "Yearning for the Rain". "Mountain Soul" has inserts of running streams with soft bird chatterings; harmonizing with various insects such as crickets. Deep Mountains have really brought the deep mountains to its listeners with such natural sounds, blending seamlessly into their musical passages which fortunately take up the mass of the EP.
As mentioned before this is a black metal album which has your common use of tremolos, drum blast beats, and shrieking dissonant vocals; but "Deep Mountains" is EXTREMELY unique in the sense of its counterparts. When I first listened to this EP I was actually a bit disappointed because I wasn't expecting such a blend of clean acoustic passages and clean soft vocals in my cup of tea. But after a few listens this EP has become one of my favorite pieces of sound to listen to. These counterparts of clean acoustics are used very well, in that when fuzzy guitars transition to the cleans, the dark and serene emotions are never lost. In the title track, the clean acoustics are supported by birds singing and violins leaving no space unfilled. This constancy of emotion allows this EP to be truly successful; even during black metal sections the variability of notes are of high compositional merit.
The subtle arrangements, such as the successor to the epic "Ode to the Pines", "Diffuse of Night" really take the EP's creativity to a whole new level. An abstract acoustic interlude becomes completely subdued by a feedback laced atmosphere; growing until it burst into black metal furies. Psychedelic layers emerge and transition as you're taken through this progressive, almost never ending uncharted land. Finally ending just how the EP began; "Deep Mountains" fade away with the pouring of rain and passive acoustic sways.
If you approach "Deep Mountains" with an open mind you WILL have the opportunity to experience deep emotions you may have not even known existed within yourself. Do yourself a favor and travel into the deep mountains.
