Horse Lords

Horse Lords

Horse Lords are an experimental rock group from Baltimore. The band consists of Andrew Bernstein, Max Eilbacher, Owen Gardner and Sam Haberman.

Sound and approach

The group works with polyrhythm, unusual tunings and modular synthesis, shaping these elements into tightly structured songs with the energy and volume of rock music. Their music draws on krautrock, post-punk, Appalachian music and African musical traditions, while also reflecting the influence of avant-garde composers such as La Monte Young and James Tenney.

A central part of their approach is just intonation, a tuning system they use in performance. To make this possible, Owen Gardner hand-modifies his guitar by adding and repositioning frets, creating a distinctive guitar sound.

Style

Horse Lords are associated with experimental, avant-garde, avant-prog, krautrock and math rock. Their sound is described through contrasts: dense but controlled, wide-ranging but precise, and rhythmic rather than loose or improvisational.