Review Summary: An excellent comeback – a haunting nocturnal journey through the Appalachians.
Fourteen years have passed since the last U.S. Christmas record graced our ears. However, upon first listen to
Cannibals of Unaka, this large gap of time goes unnoticed. A haunting successor to
The Valley Path, the band's latest effort inserts more post-rock and post-metal elements into their heavy psychedelic sound. While there are various similarities in terms of progressions, an uncanny, nocturnal mood takes over here. This adds a mystical dynamic to their familiar blues and Americana melodies, shifting them into a hallucinatory setting. Songs like "Downside of the Dark Side of the Sunshine" and "Hearts Rumble in the Dark" feature effect-drenched guitars that occasionally descend into noise over the trudging rhythms. Plus, Nate croons like a possessed Hope Sandoval, complementing the mesmerizing nature of the music. Meanwhile, “A Death Song” starts with tenebrous ambient elements similar to the current Swans era and slowly unfolding over them are moody bass lines and sharp guitar riffs. Things get more intense halfway through, until it all gently gives way to an eerie, droning coda. Seguing into "Unkaas Bleeding on Stone" we receive a rather dreamy acoustic ditty, enveloped in rich synthesizer pads. This pleasant tune cuts like a ray of sunshine through stormy clouds.
As expected, the final track, "Slow Slide Sleep," brings everything the album offers to the table. This 13-minute epic grows from spaced-out, twangy chords to pounding drums, noisy passages, howling croons and a massive, murky climax.
Cannibals of Unaka is a captivating listen and a definite step forward for U.S. Christmas. An instant highlight in their catalogue, you can hear various bits from earlier records as well, especially
Eat the Low Dogs. Nevertheless, its haunting atmosphere is where the magic is at.
