ALBUM REVIEW: Where Mountains Hide – Sometime In February

Progressive metal outfit, SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY, have put out their newest album Where Mountains Hide, which also marks the first album release between the trio and InsideOutMusic. SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY are predominately an instrumental band with all three members playing the guitar, although they also bring in other musicians for their recording and live performances.

Whilst considered progressive metal when trying to place what their genre is, they also experiment with an endless catalogue of sounds from both within the rock umbrella and outside of it, meaning no song sounds the same, no one knows what to expect, and we end up with stunning soundscapes that will take your breath away.

Opening track, Palantir, starts out quite sweet with electric guitar that could be compared to a jingle before things move more into uplifting territory when the sound changes into alternative rock fused with pop melodies. And it makes you feel happy, especially given that it feels quite nostalgic of pop-rock/pop-punk music from the early 2010s. They also bring a funky beat into it! Yet when we move onto Mourning Bird that, whilst starting out in a similar tone, moves into classic rock territory, and before we can get settled there, we then hearing some serious metal riffs that has you agog in amazement.

The trio themselves have such a natural chemistry where everything flows so smoothly regardless of what genre or sounds are brought in. Such as in The Bad Fight that starts out with an electronic rock sound but then shortly kicks off into industrial rock meets heavy metal territory, and then bringing in an orchestra, and then they manage to make heavier parts sound like a lift jingle. It overall feels like SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY put so much time and energy into making sure everything flows, that everything sounds so natural and beautiful, and the result is incredible.

Another fun thing is that on two occasions they have sister tracks that carry on from one another. The first instance is What Was Heard and What Was Said. What Was Heard is a 50-second-long track that has a moody guitar, creating an emotional atmosphere, before moving into What Was Said that in contrast is light and happy with it’s alternative pop-rock melodies that is also accompanied with metal riffs. It could be seen as a commentary on someone overthinking a positive conversation where they now perceive it as negative.

The next example is with Homeworld I Green Mountain that has a gentle anthemic rock sound with gorgeous melodies that feels uplifting, before blending into Homeworld II Dislodged that is much heavier in nature in stark contrast. It could be as a journey, it could be seen as a soundscape that shows the different sides of nature, it’s up to your imagination. SOMETIME IN FEBRUARY have created a gorgeous instrumental album that can amaze as well as calm you whilst exploring different emotions and environments.

Rating: 8/10

Where Mountains Hide is out now via InsideOut Music.

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