Sludge

Vexing – Grand Reproach Review

By Carcharodon on May 31, 2023 in Reviews, Post-Hardcore, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 10 comments

“Despite a nagging sense that sludge, particularly of the progressive variety, has probably peaked for 2023, here I am, taking in another fetid puddle of progressive sludge, just in case I’m wrong. You never know, could happen. Denver, Colorado trio Vexing has been around since 2017, with only a demo and 2020 EP Cradle to its name. Now, however, the band is ready to drop its debut LP on a suspecting public. Suspecting because if you brand something as “progressive sludge,” it engenders certain expectations. Can Vexing confound these preconceptions on Grand Reproach?” Vex mix.

Yakuza – Sutra Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 22, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Heavy Metal, Post-Metal, Psychedelic Rock, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 23 comments

“Yakuza over the course of their 20-plus year career explore through the duality of reverent and incendiary identities how sound too can transform through iteration. Having not yet graced the halls of AMG, and generally living on the outside of the metal limelight, Yakuza‘s hazily hypnotic, startlingly shredded, and warped woodwind take on metal will catch you off guard. Sutra will help you find the light.” C’mon Sutra.

Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean – Obsession Destruction Review

By Carcharodon on May 8, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 64 comments

“Massachusetts quartet Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean (who, I assume, take their name from the 2007 song “Fucking Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean” by Louisiana sludge legends, Thou) have made a bit of a name for themselves on the sludge scene, despite having only one (short) LP to their name, 2017’s Decay and Other Hopes Against Progress.” Chained by an anchor?

These Beasts – Cares, Wills, Wants Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on May 8, 2023 in Reviews, Noise Rock, Sludge, Sludge Metal, Stoner Rock, 12 comments

“These Beasts plays sludge of the stoner rock and noise rock-influenced variety—still nothing to do with dogs—right along the spectrum somewhere between the hypnotic pummel of early Melvins and the screeching chaos of The Jesus Lizard.” Bad dog!

Sunrot – The Unfailing Rope Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 23, 2023 in Reviews, Doom Metal, Metalcore, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 10 comments

“Sunrot has got some shit to say, and they’ve imbued the sophomore The Unfailing Rope with an essence of festering self-loathing dripped forth from incensed veins. A low-tatter mind knows that drilling a hole into your skull won’t alleviate mental anguish, but fight after fight after fight can lead you to consider (“Trepanation”). And when life has gifted you a “seething scorn [that] cauterized the wounds that never bled,” (“Patricide”), well, that lets you know all you need to build the ethos of Sunrot: the only catharsis seems to be the end. Have you got a morbid fire stoked in your curious and deflated heart yet?” Extreme solutions.

Hellish Form – Deathless Review

By Cherd on April 14, 2023 in Reviews, Funeral Doom, Sludge, 26 comments

“Here at AMG and Sons LLC we have a strict “no promo, no review” policy which must be adhered to at all times except for when we don’t feel like it. Back in 2021, we received a promo for Hellish Form’s debut Remains, I reviewed it favorably, and it eventually landed on my year-end list. Imagine my surprise when I found out a week ago that the funeral drone two-piece had released their follow-up, Deathless without sending us a promo. In fact, they’ve released it with very little fanfare at all based on my internet sleuthing. First, Willow Ryan and Jacob Lee, if you’re reading this, click here. Second, you’re not getting away that easy.” Only death amd reviews are inevitable.

Netherlands – Severance Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on April 9, 2023 in Reviews, Noise Rock, Psychedelic Rock, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 20 comments

“Netherlands has been kicking, screaming, and blowing out subs with furiously fuzzed twangs for a little over ten years now. Up until receiving this promo for their seventh album, Severance, I had no idea this band existed. Powered primarily by Brooklyn native Timo Ellis, ever busy with various groups (Cibo Matto and Morningwood, to name a couple) ranging from power pop to stoner rock to art rock, Netherlands explores the loudest and proudest of what the multi-instrumentalist has assembled over the years.” No sleep til…Netherlands!

Lurk – Aegis Review

By Kenstrosity on April 3, 2023 in Reviews, Black Metal, Doom Metal, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 30 comments

“Here I sit, in my dimly lit alcove, wearing my cherished war elephant Transcending Obscurity tee, penning another review for a Transcending Obscurity release. This one is for Finnish sludge doom band Lurk, and their upcoming mass of grime Aegis. I was rather smitten with 2016’s (2018’s if you track signed release dates) Fringe and its murky, swinging brand of sludge metal. It was oppressive while also being quite beautiful, adeptly wielding a chilling atmosphere that cut to the bone as often as it crushed bone to dust. Just how likely is it, then, that Lurk could return seven years later with another record of similar sound and equal or better quality?” Lurking in the murk.

Allfather – A Violent Truth Review

By sentynel on April 2, 2023 in Reviews, Sludge, 34 comments

“Nobody panic, but I’ve picked up Allfather, a band previously reviewed by the illustrious Mark Z. Awarding his 2018 AotY to the fantastic And All Will Be Desolation, he wrote “big burly riffs, gruff vocals, and rhythms that deftly shift to ensure heads will always be banged … the most purely metal thing I heard this year. Every moment feels like one you want to show your friends, while the lyrics are empowering, mature, and all too applicable to today’s world.” You know it’s good when it appeals to both me and Mark, and a description like that is a tough act to follow to say the least. After five years where everything has gone just great, A Violent Truth finds Allfather more pissed off than ever.” Angry dad.

The Turin Horse – Unsavory Impurities Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on March 29, 2023 in Reviews, Hardcore, Noise, Noise Rock, Post-Hardcore, Psychedelic Rock, Sludge, Sludge Metal, 32 comments

“Just look at that cover! I didn’t quite care what it ended up being when I saw that brazenly bright, composite-faced figure with its many mouths open in… anguish? Excitement? Both? Of course, I knew it had to foreshadow noise to some degree—something so frighteningly stitched could only be the result of frequencies scraping the boundary between pique and pleasure.” Horse show.