Moon Tooth have returned with a tug of war between darkness and light on their latest album Phototroph, released today via Pure Noise Records.
Pure Metal at heart, an expected indulgent darkness pours out in its feisty and exciting composition, but Phototroph strikes something intriguingly special with its consistent strive for the light.
“Phototropism” is defined as the point in which organisms acquire energy through photon capture to carry out various cellular metabolic processes, which similarly fit the state of Moon Tooth singer John Carbone‘s own personal life, as well as the trajectory and output of the Long Island four-piece.
“That theme of plants growing towards the light was just something I kept coming back to in different songs,” he commented. “Our previous record, Crux, was like a crossroads and was dealing with a lot of negative sh*t. Phototroph is about walking from the middle and picking a road that goes onward and upward on a brighter path.”
The record’s 11 profound and technically complex songs carve out an established and most fully-developed portrait of Moon Tooth to date. Playing with varying sounds and energies, ‘Deathwish Blues‘ brings super-charged angular riffs, working as an instant kick to the album’s first half before quickly moving into a blended “best of both worlds” track on ‘The I That Never Dies‘ – remaining fluid between insistent, unforgiving metal and more melancholy moments.
Elsewhere, ‘Nymphaeaceae‘ — its scientific terminology for water lilies — carries an inspiring tale of triumph over adversity, where a frenzied blast of noise develops seamlessly into a delightful musical restlessness.
The nostalgic lilt of ‘Grip On The Ridge‘ is a timeless and wistful rumination on childhood, featuring some of the most moving guitar noodling you’ll hear. ‘Carry Me Home‘ and the title track round off this album in an exuberant outburst of optimism and hope.
Moon Tooth’s Phototroph is sure to bloom through the murky waters of your heart just like a lily on the water – this fresh metal will breathe new air into your lungs with its cohesive concept and stand-out originality.
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Phototroph Track Listing:
- I Revere
- Back Burner
- Deathwish Blues
- The I That Never Dies
- Alpha Howl
- O My Isle
- The Conduit
- Nymphaeaceae
- Grip On The Ridge
- Carry Me Home
- Phototroph