The ProgSpace has unveiled a guitar playthrough for THE NIGHT WATCH‘s “Mendoza.” The track comes by way of the Canadian progressive instrumental quartet’s An Embarrassment Of Riches full-length, independently released late last year.
Featuring Musk Ox guitarist/Agalloch collaborator Nathanael Larochette and Musk Ox violinist Evan Runge, An Embarrassment Of Riches is a towering and richly detailed journey through external and internal landscapes, where post, progressive, black, doom, and folk metal weave their way through a tapestry of post-rock, folk, jazz, and classical textures expertly sewn together by virtuoso violinist Runge and company. From cavernous valleys of solitude and paranoia, to soaring peaks of transcendence and affirmation, the turmoil and triumph one would imagine facing on an isolated land mass are herein expressed through harrowing tales of dynamic sound, carrying listeners on a wordless journey to the root and summit of human experience.
Comments The ProgSpace, “The album follows a nameless explorer who finds themself shipwrecked on a seemingly deserted island. ‘Mendoza’ is the moment when said explorer awakens on the shoreline, abandoned amidst rolling waves and the island’s towering mountains. The overwhelming dread and urgent adventure are expressed through the song.”
Adds Larochette, “I am grateful to all of the bands who have paved the way for my development as a musician and I sincerely hope this performance is capable of giving back to all of the music which helped shape me as a composer and guitarist. This album is about facing insurmountable odds and finding the courage to conquer them with strength and hope. THE NIGHT WATCH would like to dedicate this song to every individual around the world fighting for a better future, where we stand united in dignity and respect, transcending ignorance and oppression once and for all.”
View THE NIGHT WATCH’s “Mendoza” guitar playthrough at THIS LOCATION.
View the band’s previously released video for “The Summit (Part I)” below.
An Embarrassment Of Riches is out now digitally with a physical edition to follow. For orders, visit THE NIGHT WATCH Bandcamp page at THIS LOCATION. Find the band’s full discography streaming HERE and on all digital platforms.
Since releasing their eclectic self-titled debut in 2013, THE NIGHT WATCH has proven themselves a creative and evolving musical force, allowing genres to act as mere sign posts on their instrumental explorations. Having performed alongside progressive titans such as Unexpect, Leprous, and Trioscapes, THE NIGHT WATCH continues to carve their own ever-shifting space in the world of forward reaching music. Continuing said momentum, their second album Boundaries was released to wide acclaim in 2016. Consisting of a single thirty-six-minute song, Boundaries was heralded by Heavy Blog Is Heavy as “…a masterfully crafted tapestry…,” and selected by Invisible Oranges as one of the most overlooked albums of 2016. Carrying this momentum to the present, THE NIGHT WATCH‘s third album An Embarrassment Of Riches is the band’s most mature and ambitious work to date.
“…a triumph of instrumental prog… a tribute to how varied, visual and fascinating instrumental music can be.” — The ProgSpace
“…their greatest effort yet… True to its name, the LP builds upon the strengths of its predecessors to offer an even more eclectic, determined, and vibrantly affective venture. As such, it’s an absolute triumph of the form.” – Metal Injection
“…a wealth of musical treasure….” – Decibel Magazine
“…beautiful, instrumental, violin-heavy folk music that fits equally within the worlds of ‘progressive metal’ and ‘modern classical.'” – BrooklynVegan
“…you’ll be rewarded with some cinematic vistas as beautiful and foreboding as the cover art.” – MetalSucks
“…a triumph of a whole other level.” – Everything Is Noise
“…beautifully orchestrated…this project is able to maintain that organic beauty while also pulling off some impressive musical feats.” – The Needle Drop; Best Songs Of The Week
“…rich, complex, and beguiling…” – Heavy Blog Is Heavy
“…one of the best modern prog bands out right now…” – Progressive Music Planet
“…the writing and musicianship are both consistently excellent throughout the album…” – Angry Metal Guy
“…very beautifully composed, with the violins soaring over the blasting metal riffs and deep punchy bass lines. The first half of the record is light-hearted, jovial, and epic. The second half is beautiful, ethereal, and sweeping.” – Noob Heavy
“It may seem nigh impossible for an instrumental, highly acoustic album that includes a violin as one of the key instruments to make the end of year list for best progressive metal releases. Yet the emotionally evocative playground that THE NIGHT WATCH craft in their thundering drums that roll like waves, and thoughtful guitar riffs that cut like knives, truly strike to the heart of what makes metal so breathtaking.” – Sonic Perspectives Top 15 progressive Metal Albums of 2019
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