Album Review: Merrick’s Tusk – Between The Earth And The Trees (Undead Collective Records)

Highly-rated post-hardcore quartet, Merrick’s Tusk, draw from an impressive encyclopaedic knowledge of the back catalogues of Rival Schools, Thursday, and At The Drive In, as well as the modern guile of Coheed And Cambria and the Deftones. The emerging Nottingham crew will release their eagerly awaited debut album, Between The Earth And The Trees, on Friday 3rd May via Undead Collective Records.

One of the over-riding thoughts that sticks with you as Merrick’s Tusk blast their way through this 12 track release is just how mature a record it is. It’s a genuine surprise that this is the band’s debut, such is the quality of post-hardcore on show here.

What that means is we have track after track that blends the hyperactivity of hardcore with rhythmic passages and melodic highs and lows. The result is a banger that we can all be very happy about.

Tight as a Chinese finger trap, the foursome keep things balanced expertly with the exciting doubleheader of Reform and Blueprint. The latter in particular is very special sounding, morosely melodic with depth.

The spoken word start to Alternate with an English twang is pretty great and that it leads into the catchiest track yet is even better. How do Merrick’s Tusk better that? With tracks like the mood-altering Turn Out the Lights, the demand that the vocals ask in Hold the Waves while the guitars scream slight feedback and bass in the background and the god-damn incredible emotional epic that is Persist. On the strength of those tracks, you can be sure that Between the Earth and the Trees isn’t one to miss.

We’re not done yet though, thankfully. The last couple of tracks keep the quality at the highest of highs. The strum of guitars and powerful vocals of Never Enough amazes and At Your Best is a contender for feel good track of the year.

On the face of this debut, Merrick’s Tusk are going to be absolutely huge.

Merrick’s Tusk – Between the Earth and the Trees Full Track Listing:

1. Reform
2. Blueprint
3. Alternate
4. The Earth
5. Turn Out The Lights
6. Hold The Waves
7. The Ache
8. Persist
9. Never Enough
10. Untethered
11. The Trees
12. At Your Best

You can find pre-order links here or go to Bandcamp. Keep up to date with the release and Merrick’s Tusk by liking their Facebook Page, following them on Twitter, Instagram and subscribing to their YouTube Channel.