Redwood Hill’s last installment to their epic trilogy is simply breathtaking. Their recently released double album, Ender, completes a dark journey that began back in 2012 and showcases the band’s incredible evolution and growth during that period of time. Redwood Hill is masterful at channeling their inner turmoil through powerful raw writing, and when combined with amazing technical skill, their music unleashes a fury upon their listeners the likes of which has never been seen.
The entire band took their time to construct Ender with the DIY approach which allowed for significantly more artistic control. What emerged was loss, solitude, depression, and at the end of it all, listeners left with a glimmering light of hope at the end of an unimaginable tunnel. Overall, Redwood Hill succeeds with gritty new tones, powerful riffs, and an amazing story-line that creates for the perfect final chapter in this amazing trilogy.
The first number on the album is “Singularity”, and it begins by slowly building up emotions that dwell in us all. It has an eerie ending visualizing stirred trees that palpitate like the calm seas around the misty Hebrides. And from this, listeners take in layer after layer of a somber soundscape intertwined with infectious basslines and powerful drumming. Next up is “No Horizon”, which leaves listeners with a hollowness that seems to infer we’re all fucked and there is no city of gold at the end of our rainbow. Powerful. One of my favorite tracks on the album was “Black Heart”. Throughout the song, you are led down a path of dark shadows, unveiling one’s mind as it becomes sober with everyday thoughts. Redwood Hill’s guitarists keep playing the same chorus over and over yet tweaking it ever so slightly as to be original in their own right. Even after pressing the stop key, I still hear the chilling, “Blood of my Blood” chorus in my sleep. This one is undeniable.
Listening to the last chapter of Redwood Hills’s trilogy felt like an honor. It's not like I wasn't a fan of Descender or Colider, but felt this 70 minute plus release was truly different. It was a meticulously curated album that challenged my mind and touched my soul in ways I had never dreamed of going into it. Throughout Ender, the band’s edgy post-apocalyptic tone melted listeners minds and helped them along on what ended up being one incredible journey. The album itself is dark, but well put together in collaboration with Rasmus G. Sejeresen over at Rakkerpak Records. That said, Redwood Hill's Ender is definitely one you’ll want to listen to over and over as this one gets better with age!
As always, rock on my friends! Hunnypot Approved! Overall Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Artist: Redwood Hill, LP: Ender, Release Date: March 13th, 2020, Label: Rakkerpak Records