Album Review: Caligula's Horse - 'The Tide, The Thief & River's End'

Brisbane prog rock upstarts Caligula's Horse emerged from the local scene, making a name for themselves in the short two to three years they have been an outfit.  Therefore, it's not a stretch to suggest new offering, 'The Tide, The Thief & River's End' presents itself with equal amounts of anticipation and expectation.

Commencing with 'A Gift To Afterthought,' the full-length begins with an unexpected soft tune before it throws you into some heavier guitars. This soft, lulling guitar tune makes itself present in the background of the song, while it slowly gets a little heavier as the song continues. The building of guitars and the uniquely captivating vocals of Jim Grey have you hooked at the first song. It's a promising start, which serves as an ideal opener.

The band has mixed a lot of softer sounds throughout the album, songs like 'Atlas' provide a slow introduction that is really quite angelic leaving you in this dream state. The track brings in some dense guitar work at times and even ends on a more aggressive tone, but still manages to capture the beautiful elements, which feature prominently. 

'The Tide, The Thief & River's End' is all wrapped together with the track 'All is Quiet by the Wall,' which begins with this groove influenced introduction that is a really great example of the exceptional guitar skill that graces the entire album.  

Caligula's Horse's previous works have been well loved and with this album they have definitely stepped up their game to better themselves anywhere possible. 'The Tide, The Thief & River's End' is a progressive anthem. To consider that it was also self produced by this relatively new band is a great feat.

'The Tide, The Thief & River's End' is a really well produced and put together album. Both the vocals and guitar work are absolutely mesmersing and captivating. This album is definitely one that everyone should check out. Caligula's Horse have the potential to make it big if they continue to make albums like this, there isn't really anything bad to say about it.

1. A Gift To Afterthought

2. Water's Edge

3. Atlas

4. Into The White

5. Old Cracks In New Earth

6. Dark Hair Down

7. Thief

8. All Is Quiet By The Wall