R E V I E W S

• FASTER LOUDER Swarm Festival, Oct 2009
"Mushroom Giant have stormy skies, inspirational quotes and all manner of darkly regal-looking shit projected behind them as they begin playing. Guitar soundscapes over double time hi-hats and thumping bass. They do a song called Woman Heroin(sic). Interesting that music about heroin always sounds the same. I really like it, but I’m not about to try heroin just to find out why. I start to wonder if anyone’s gonna sing and realize I don’t even care. This is the most I’ve enjoyed music today. It’s like a soundtrack for when you leave your body. I nearly go into a trance ...

"Mushroom Giant are shaking me out of my coma – interspersing metal shredding and catatonic blackness – fast and loud – effectively, scaring the shit out of me in the process. At least it was a slow burn up til this point. Conniption-inducing projections flash like strobe lights ..."

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/20968/Swarm-Festival--The-Esplanade-Hotel-Melbourne-171009.htm

• FASTER LOUDER Sydonia/Mushroom Giant tour, July 2009
Melbourne’s Mushroom Giant quickly warmed the room and lifted the standard to an almost awe inspiring height. Set-opener Graven Image instantly commanded the attention of everyone present and gained it rightfully so. As an instrumental act Mushroom Giant fill the subjective void left by the absence of a singer with an amazing visual display sharing themes of persistence and strength of the human spirit that’s a kind reminder of Pink Floyd’s epic ‘Live In Pompeii’.

Much like Sydonia intent and precision is what drives Mushroom Giant’s live sound. Complex chord progressions, time changes and epic compositions were executed effortlessly with comfort, ease and familiarity. Woman Heroin from their 2008 album Kuru was the perfect closer to the set and displayed amazing textural control, dynamic and balance that goes far to defining their sound.

http://www.fasterlouder.com.au

• BEAT MAGAZINE 'Album of the Week' (20/2/08)
"... Crescendos are used to great effect throughout Kuru to build tension and elevate mood. In addition to the standard drums, bass and guitars, Mushroom Giant utilise pedal effects, violins and keys to give depth and dynamics. This is no more evident than on Iron Tang, Pigeons and Woman Heroin. In what would’ve fitted nicely on the Braveheart soundtrack, Autumn Leaves The Dead gives a feeling of walking through open fields, flanked by mountains, with the breeze brushing over long grass.

The gentle, light-filled first part to Kuru is just the calm before the storm. As the waves dive into the undertow and guitars begin to drop, chop and churn. The track Kuru holds a thunder-filled Sabbath drone while Poor Tom is truly the eye of the storm. Its schizo riffs and foot-to-the-floor drumwork are a force to behold."

JAMES RIDLEY
http://www.beat.com.au/review.php?id=1003

• OZ PROG 'Featured Artist' (8/3/08)
"... Mushroom Giant have been quietly perfecting their art over the past five years, and their proficiency is evident on Kuru. Evoking comparisons to Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Mono - bands who often teeter on the edge of out-and-out metal but also have a quieter, subtle side - Kuru is a rollercoaster ride from start to end.

In the album opener "Graven Image", one of post-rock's signature techniques is employed: gradually threading a melody into a repetitive rhythm, building closer and closer towards a crescendo. The difference here is in the upbeat, pounding drumbeat that drives the song at a speedy pace, making the song more dance-rock than post-rock. A crushing, distorted guitar effect in the final 20 seconds of the track offers one of many headbanging opportunities to come for those so inclined."

"... This is what Mushroom Giant do best: project moods, paint scenes and tell stories, all purely using music, and without any lyrics. This is a rare skill.

Kuru is a truly deep album, one not easily judged after a single listen, but one that becomes more rewarding with each listen. Give it the time and space it needs to show itself to you, and the album's beauty will make itself evident."

BRAD DIXON
www.ozprog.com/reviews/music/view/37

• THE SILENT BALLET (USA) (26/4/08)
"Their sound sits right on the line between rock and metal, spacey and earthy. As they straddle these variables, multitudes of combinations produce great variety in the album, probably best shown in Poor Tom, which quickly switches from shred metal to spacey ambience again and again. Easily the heaviest song on the album, it provides a great change from the rather subdued nature of the middle of the album.

“Kuru is perhaps the song that sounds most like its concept, conveying the delirious, degenerative nature of the disease. Autumn Leaves the Dead is a pleasant yet energetic song that clearly contrasts Poor Tom in its beauty, despite the desolate implications of its title. Clean guitars and near-Oriental sounding violin melodies work beautifully together."

www.thesilentballet.com

"The guitarists complement each other with wonderfully expressive, layered guitar playing while the rhythm section gives each song amazing depth and density. Songs like Pigeons and Autumn Leaves The Dead are beautiful, haunting compositions ..."
BEAT MAGAZINE

"Intrigued. Great rollicking piece of nu-prog. Look forward to hearing more ..."
RICHARD KINGSMILL, TRIPLE J