Black Mountain Tabernacle is a Portsmouth-based alternative rock and country band who have just hit my radar thanks to their new three-track EP, Black Mountain.

By Graeme Smith

Black Mountain Tabernacle are a new band, but its members have musical pedigree performing as Stonecabin. The band have four intriguingly-named members – Preacher on vocals, guitar and mandolin, Stonepicking on guitar, banjo, dulcimer and backing vocals. The Dandy Bassman on bass and keyboards, and The North Country Gentleman on drums, percussion and backing vocals. The four share a love for Americana, in the vein of Doc Boggs, Neil Young, Doc Watson and Johnny Cash, and that’s what you get from Black Mountain, but paired with that are down and dirty rock elements too.

The EP opens with Horses, a song about loss and regret. The vocals are mournful and the country rock instrumental arrangement slow and deliberate. The Light is rich in storytelling, telling the tale of a veteran of the war in Afghanistan. Musically its livelier than Horses but no less emotionally-complex. Done Me Wrong is muscially gentle but lyrically visceral. A chanting, building outro leaves the final impression and it’s a good one.

If you love modern Americana, and are in the look out for new music in the genre, then look no further than Black Mountain. With this EP, Black Mountain Tabernacle pay tribute to all the best aspects of the traditional sound, while also bringing a distinctive British edge and a unique way with words to it. I’m excited to see what else the guys have in store for us. They’ve made a great start in their current guise.

Black Mountain was recorded and mixed at Brighton Road Studios by Jake Skinner. It was mastered down the road in Leeds by Ben at Rarestone Mastering. You can give it a listen below.