This is the third album from Jupiterian, a Brazilian atmospheric sludge band.
2017’s Terraforming was one of my favourite releases of 2017, so it’s great to have the band back. Protosapien gives us 36 minutes of characterful doom/sludge metal that sees Jupiterian once more producing the grimy Continue reading
Eremit are a doom/sludge band from Germany and this is their latest EP.
I loved 2019’s Carrier of Weight, so much that it appeared in my end of year 2019 list too. As such, when this new EP appeared – two tracks, lasting 21 minutes – I knew I had to consume it hungrily. Continue reading
Eremit are a doom/sludge band from Germany and this is their debut album.
As I’m sure many reviews will point out, Carrier of Weight is aptly named, as this is an album of substantial heaviness, both in the sense of sheer heaviosity and weighty atmosphere. Either way, it crushes. With only three tracks, but a total playing time of 68 minutes, Carrier of Weight is a monster of atmospheric heaviness. Continue reading
Downfall of Gaia are a German post-black metal band and this is their fifth album.
Downfall of Gaia are an impressive proposition. Their blackened brand of atmospheric sludge metal is channelled into post-black metal songs that are both satisfying and immersive. We last encountered them on 2016’s Atrophy, and now they grace us with 40 minutes of new material. Continue reading
This is the third album from Finnish sludge/doom band Lurk.
Now here’s an album that’s all about texture and atmosphere. Fringe is a cross between bands such as Neurosis, Inter Arma, Sea of Bones, and labelmates Jupiterian, to name but a few. However, on Fringe the band display their own dark personality, and are firmly convincing in their own right. Continue reading
Distances are a post-metal/atmospheric sludge band from the US and this is their fourth album, (assuming you count 2016’s covers album Rip Offs).
Now here’s an interesting and involved release. I like something a bit different, and across the 65 minutes of material on this album Distance cover a lot of…ahem…distance.
Okay, I’ll get my coat…
Anyway…the Continue reading
This is the fourth album from Process of Guilt, a doom/sludge band from Portugal.
We’ve met Process of Guilt before on their split with Rorcal. This was a very favourable meeting, and sets the scene nicely for Black Earth. Continue reading
Soothsayer are a doom band from Ireland. This is their latest release.
Soothsayer play atmospheric doom/sludge that thrives on dense, dark emotion and otherworldly atmospheres.
This is slow-building music that wields atmosphere like a wrecking ball, crushing everything around it with the sheer weight of oppressive mood and feeling. Continue reading
This is the début album from atmospheric progressive/sludge/post-metal, (phew), solo-project-with-guests Summit.
This is an album that works its wonders in moods and feelings, spread over the playing time with lovingly crafted care and attention to detail.
I like that this album has quite a lot going on. Continue reading
LLNN are an atmospheric Sludge band from Denmark. This is their début album.
Mixing Hardcore, Sludge and synths, the band create a dark sci-fi themed album that is quite apocalyptic in scope and feel.
Passionate, acidic screams ring out over a tide of crushing distortion, while relatively subtle sound-enhancements add texture and mood to the onslaught of heaviness. Lonesome backing cleans appear occasionally like a ghost in a maelstrom; spectral and mysterious.
Think Will Haven mixed with early Cult of Luna to get a good idea of where the band are coming from. It’s a dark and malevolent Post-Hardcore take on Sludge Metal and is almost as creepily atmospheric as it is oppressively heavy. Almost.
LLNN offer a hypnotic nihilism driven by a fatalistic acceptance of the fate of existence, which, paradoxically, also ends up being bleakly uplifting and empowering by the end of it. This is music to fall in love to at the end of the world.
Highly recommended.
