The Judas Horse - Holy War

The Judas Horse is something of a Western North Carolina indie-folk super group. Meghan Mulhearn, Linn Rogers, and David Lynch have all paid their dues in bands such as U.S. Christmas, Enoch, and Descolada. Holy War, their new EP on Inherent Records, benefits from the experience and musical proficiency the trio has developed in their respective projects. More than the sum of its parts, The Judas Horse has forged its own style on this release, blending the sounds of shoegaze and indie rock with the darker elements of Americana.

Throughout Holy War I am reminded of the wall of sound and droning atmospheric tones of bands like My Bloody Valentine and Spacemen 3. These shoegaze powerhouses utilize massive guitar pedal collections and lots of feedback and amp noises. The Judas Horse takes on this aesthetic with a more stripped down instrumentation that is completely sans percussion. Their songs rely heavily on hypnotic, pulsating, pedal-rich guitar work and steady driving bass lines. Mulhearn's entrancing violins benefit from an array of effect pedals, including a personal favorite, Blackout Effectors' Crystal Dagger Ring Modulator. While her technique obviously draws inspiration from Warren Ellis' bow-work with The Dirty Three and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, the spacious role her instrument plays in the overall sound of Holy War is both stunning and unique.

This five song EP opens with the title track, a perfect introduction to the genre-collage that is to follow. Psychedelic swirls, cavernous reverbs, and delays are complimented by harmonious and doleful vocals. “Gambit” and the playful “Chess” are built around powerful guitar riffs, offering subtle hints of the 1993 post-hardcore classic Slip by Quicksand. “Realms” is a standout track that eventually dissolves into a noisy and artful tableau, brimming with bizarre phased-out chirps, clicks, and bounteous string swells. As Holy War closes with “Neighbor” the EP comes full circle, the ghostly vocals and rich sonic atmosphere coming closer to the feel of the opening track than anything found in between.

Fans of the members' various other projects will surely find this release intriguing and appealing. However, with strong recordings such as Holy War and 2010’s Pathfinder, The Judas Horse is likely to develop and expand on a fan base independent of their other bands. I look forward to whatever the future holds for these three and I hope I soon get the chance to catch some of these tunes live.

-Eric White

The Judas Horse

Holy War

(Inherent)