Sludge

Lamassu – Into the Empty Review

By Carcharodon on September 5, 2019 in 2019, Australian Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Stoner Rock, 29 comments

“Stoner rock is one of those genres where it’s hard to put into words what separates the great records from the tediously competent. What is it that makes Kyuss’ Welcome to Sky Valley or Sleep’s Dopesmoker nigh-on perfect records, while another album with all the same constituents just barely scrapes a 2.0? Well, as I say, it’s hard to put into words but, possibly because of its close relationship with the blues, great stoner has a ‘feel’ to it, a ‘know it, when you hear it’ quality.” Empty feelz and bluesy thrills.

The Fifth Alliance – The Depth of the Darkness Review

By Emya on September 4, 2019 in 2019, ConSouling Sounds, Doom Metal, Dutch Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Post-Metal, Sludge, 5 comments

“Take a gander at The Fifth Alliance’s new band promo shot below. What’s the first thing that comes to mind? After my first glance, I couldn’t shake the uncanny resemblance of the spotlighted line of band member heads to the Game of Thrones Hall of Faces, a seemingly endless room full of pillars housing the skinned faces of the dead sitting in wait to be wielded by one of the Faceless Men. Too grim of an intro? Perhaps, but I don’t think The Fifth Alliance would think so.” Face the darkness.

Ledge – All I Hope For Review

By Kronos on September 3, 2019 in 2020, American Metal, Doom Metal, Hardcore, Powerviolence, Releases, Reviews, Sludge, Translation Loss, Hardcore, Powerviolence, Sludge, 6 comments

“Ledge is not a clever band and All I Hope For is not a clever album. Nuance and erudition have no place in this music, and there’s no shame in that; whom among us does not count lunkheaded and reductionist music among their passions? Whether it’s deathcore, slam, war metal, stoner rock, or today’s subject (lurching hardcore), most metalheads have a weakness for dumb fun of some variety. We want something stupid and heavy to complement our drinking, gym routine, vegetable chopping, etc.” Heavy shit, brah!

Wizard Rifle – Wizard Rifle Review

By Kenstrosity on August 29, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Reviews, Sludge, Svart Records, Thrash Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Sludge, 53 comments

“What is a ‘wizard rifle,’ exactly? It is a rifle that shoots magic missiles? Perhaps a rifle that spawns wizards propelled to impossible velocities (which does not bode well for said wizards, I suppose)? Maybe it’s something simpler, like a rifle made specifically for wizards that stores itself magically inside their hats. Or it could be something more complex, such as a rifle whose first shot pops out a smaller wizard who holds his/her/their own miniaturized wizard rifle, and so on.” Spell spewing.

Waingro – III Review

By GardensTale on August 19, 2019 in 2019, Canadian Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Sludgelord Records, Stoner Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 11 comments

“What constitutes summer music for you? In my case, I tend to gravitate towards music that plays well on car trips, meaning I blast stoner and sludge above average during the times of sunshine. These genres often have the locomotive rhythms, simple structures and addictive riffing that allow me to practice finger-drumming on the steering wheel and terrible singing, preferably with the windows rolled down so everyone in a 30-yard radius gets to enjoy with me.” Road rage and hot days.

Cable – Take the Stairs to Hell Review

By Master of Muppets on August 3, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Hard Rock, Reviews, Sludge, Translation Loss, Hard Rock, Sludge, 17 comments

“I fucking hate the promo sump. It lies, cheats and steals more than the whoriest ov my exes, and successfully cons me into infinite second chances just as often. This time, she – the bin, not the bad news boo – really outdid herself, preying on my spite and my lust for redemption following my second 4.5 in this year ov our Jørn 2019; she promised me metalcore, guys, she said she’d give me something trite and untrve, but instead she gave me Cable. Not only are they exactly 0% metalcore, but these Connecticut creeps can actually kick a competent amount of kiester, woe Discordia.” Sumpin’ sumpin’.

Sūrya – Solastalgia Review

By Cherd on July 30, 2019 in 2019, Argonauta Records, British Metal, Doom Metal, Post-metal, Reviews, Sludge, Doom Metal, Post-Metal, Sludge, 28 comments

“Metal, especially doom metal, is uniquely equipped to convey the existential threat of environmental disaster at the largest scale, the human systems that are causing it, and the inadequacy of those same systems to mitigate it. Enter eco-doom band Sūrya. Greg, one of the guitarists, had this to say in a recent Cvlt Nation interview: ‘Some metal bands like to write songs about fucking wizards and Satan and I’m fully into that as theater and entertainment. But the sheer rapacity of capitalism and the epoch we find ourselves in, the Anthropocene, is the scariest thing imaginable. It’s just so fucking bleak.'” The future bleak.

High Fighter – Champain Review

By GardensTale on July 23, 2019 in 2019, Argonauta Records, German Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Sludge, 23 comments

“High Fighter’s debut album Scars & Crosses was a largely laidback affair, according to a cursory listen from yours truly, featuring groovy stoner metal, played at a mid tempo, with its most distinguishing feature being vocalist Mona Miluski and her sardonic vocal style. Well, clearly High Fighter are coming down from their high and focusing on the fighter, because Champain is anything but laid back. The Germans are ready to get angry.” And that always goes so well for everyone.

Beastwars – IV Review

By Saunders on June 28, 2019 in 2019, Destroy Records, Doom Metal, New Zealand Metal, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge Metal, Stoner Metal, 37 comments

“Aside from the fierce sporting rivalry, cross Tasman cultural banter, and endless sheep-fucking jokes, we Aussies generally hold our New Zealand pals from across the ditch in high regard. So sharing in the artistic success of our neighbors is not uncommon. In metal terms, powerhouse act Beastwars are one of the finest bands to emerge from the New Zealand metal scene in recent years.” Stronger than death.

Tar Pit – Tomb of Doom Review

By Carcharodon on June 24, 2019 in 2019, American Metal, Doom Metal, Ordo MCM Records, Reviews, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Sludge, 29 comments

“There is, at least to my ears, a point at which doom, stoner rock, and sludge all intersect, at which point it’s hard to definitively class a band one thing or the other. This is perhaps unsurprising, given the common roots these sub-genres all share in Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Trouble, et al. And it is this murky, fuzzy point of overlap that Portland, Oregon four-piece Tar Pit inhabit and do so quite knowingly and unashamedly.” Stuck in the pit.