THE MATADOR is a Progressive Post-Metal from Southeast Queensland, Australia. "Throat of the Mountain" unfolds as a single piece across three movements. "Etched in Ash," and "Etched in Stone" form the opening arc, moving from restraint into weight, before resolving in the title track. Written as a continuous work, these songs are intended to be experienced together. The album has three lengthy songs, and "Etched in Ash" is first. The song begins with clean guitar that echo, and have a somber feeling to them. The main riff then eases in, and you can feel the doom sinking in. The harsh vocals rage with both fury and frustration, anger and despair. Something snaps around the halfway mark, and rage turns to seething venom. Thick bass notes carry the sound at times as well, and these subtle shifts keep you engaged in the music.

"Etched in Stone" also begins with clean tones that seem to reflect the tranquility of the forest. Of course, it can also be a scary place, particularly after dark when creatures come out, and that is reflected in the harsh tones that follow. Talk about desolate…it seems the forest might be a place that you go to disappear in, or even to die. The title track is the final of three, and it's a continuation of the story. Despondence is dialed up in favor of some of the earlier rage, and it's almost as if you have lost your will to live. I keep coming back to the album cover. The forest can be a strange place…you can run away and hide there, and it can harbor your worst secrets. It can also be a place where you can re-emerge transformed.

Darkness can also hide secrets, and they begin to creep up as tension mounts, and back comes the unfettered rage. From there, it's like treading water until you grow tired and begin to drown. I can't imagine a worst way to go. The "Throat of the Mountain" can serve as a metaphor for strength and resilience, and for wonder when it slips into view. It can also mean oppression, ancient memory, and even doom. The best part of the album for me is that the band lays it all out there for each of us to decide what it means.