- Named Best Local Recording of 2018 by Seven Days -
"Starkiller And The Banshees mixture of ambient ballads, hyperdriven prog-rock and alt.pop aesthetics has the capacity to recall some very memorable and influential bands and musicians, all the while sounding like The Mountain Carol had at least some of those ideas first and whether they remain obscure or find themselves receiving recognition for their efforts, the upstate NY trio are indisputably destined for some form of greatness."
- Jon Gordon, Delusions of Adequacy
"Throughout Starkiller and the Banshees, Wilson and co. create a mood even more striking than that of their first EP. That they do so without leaning on flashy hooks or traditional tropes shows the Mountain Carol to be one of the most unclassifiable and ingenious groups in the area."
- Jordan Adams, Seven Days
"For instance, opener "Dino" blends wispy, old-fashioned romantic rock croons with off-kilter keyboard touches to evoke the '50s and the '80s at once. Somehow, it all fits together well, as does the ethereal smokiness behind the sunny '60s pop charm of the title track. In contrast, "Sway" feels more modern, with DIY beats and light instrumentation highlighting the vocals, whereas "Adventure Safari" coats a conventional piano ballad with avant-garde layers before "The Party's Over" offers a luscious and energetic closer filled with shimmering textures.
Really, each track on the release feels both distinctive and tightly tied to the rest of sequence, so it's constantly surprising while also feeling quite unified."
- Jordan Blum, popmatters
credits
released June 1, 2018
Charles Bruce: Vocals, keys, percussion
Austtin Petrashune: Guitar, vocals
Matt Hall: Drums
Recorded at Wayward Sound Studio in Plattsburgh, NY
Engineered by Jamse Ward
Produced by The Mountain Carol & Jamse Ward
Mixed by The Mountain Carol & Jamse Ward
Mastered by Kevin Carafa
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