Beastwars are a sludge/stoner metal band from New Zealand and this is their fifth album.
Following on from 2019’s IV, (via a covers album in 2023 called Tyranny of Distance), comes the 40-minute The Ship // The Sea. I was excited to listen to this, as Beastwars always deliver, and it hasn’t disappointed.
The Ship // The Sea brings us another intoxicating dose of Beastwars’ meaty metallic brew. Beastwars are one of the best in the business, and these new tracks showcase just how much business is booming. The music exemplifies the band’s capacity to unleash songs that are simply better than those of most of their peers.
It’s heavy, gritty, and full of vim and vigour. The band have an unerring ability to hit the mark. Their charismatic blend of sludge, stoner, grunge, and heavy metal is in fine form across these 10 songs. You can detect a few different influences and ideas here and there thrown in throughout this superlative album, all adding character to an already characterful formula, but ultimately this is a crushing, faceripping, masterful sludgy metal album, and Beastwars rule.
The songs are well-developed and have been structured by careful hands. They’re rough and ready, and brimming with passion, but you can still tell that thought has been put into them. The riffs are infectious, and the songs are packed with hooks and memorable moments. The singer’s gravelly voice sounds on top form, and I’d argue he gives his best performance yet on these new songs. The music is warm with emotion, whether it’s a guitar lick, a vocal phrase, or anything else. The Ship // The Sea exudes quality through and through.
If you’re a fan of bands like Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar, Down, High on Fire, and Mastodon, then this is an essential listen.
Wonderbox Metal 