Leaving None But Small Birds

The two cutting-edge metal groups eschew their individual styles for a powerful folk collaboration.

The first collaboration between the Body and BIG|BRAVE draws from the two groups' shared love of old-time country blues and reverence for folk traditions, additionally taking inspiration from the Band's interpretation of these styles during the 1960s and '70s. BIG|BRAVE started their career playing stripped-down, folk-inspired music before developing a much heavier, doom metal-influenced sound, so in a way they're returning to their roots, but the resulting album is actually much earthier than any of their past work. And while the Body's presence is usually unmistakable whenever they collaborate with another artist, this album is enough of a departure from their ever-shifting sound to surprise even longtime fans. BIG|BRAVE's Robin Wattie sings lead vocals on the entire album, and the lyrics and melodies are sourced from North American and English folk songs and hymns. The musicians wed the traditional tunes to droning rhythms, sometimes recalling psych-folk bands like Philadelphia's Espers, with rustic violin melodies and shruti box accompanying the crisp drums and autumnal guitar on the opener "Blackest Crow."

On Leaving None but Small Birds, the Body and Big Brave — two of the most consistent and prolific acts in heavy music — have come together t...

The Body and BIG|BRAVE's 'Leaving None But Small Birds' is a rich, elemental, and engrossing slice of doom-laden American folk music.