This is the second album from Polish doom/sludge band 71TONMAN.
A mere four or so years ago since their self-titled debut album came out, 71TONMAN have now returned with an ever heavier, slower, and fatter release. Hold on to something tight before you press play, as Earthwreck is likely to live up to its name when played at high volumes. Continue reading “71TONMAN – Earthwreck (Review)”
Burke and Hare are a UK sludge metal band and this is their debut EP.
Here we have just over 12 minutes of ugly heaviness, just the we like it for this kind of sludge-driven hideousness. Continue reading “Burke and Hare – Burke and Hare (Review)”
This is the second album form French sludge metallers Fange.
I enjoyed the group’s debut EP Poisse, so it’s good to catch up with them once more for their second album.
This is pitch-black sludge ugliness, with some noise tendencies. Think Primitive Man, Full of Hell and Continue reading “Fange – Pourrissoir (Review)”
This is the debut EP from Everest Queen, a sludge metal band from the UK.
The first song, Ascent, sets out Everest Queen’s love of heaviness in no uncertain terms. At just over a minute in length it’s just an intro track, a warm up for the two main events to come. Continue reading “Everest Queen – Everest Queen (Review)”
Prisoner 639 are from Belgium and play grinding powerviolence. They have teamed up for this split with Dutch sludge band Throw Me in the Crater.
Prisoner 639 get things going in a slow-burning fashion, opening up with lots of noise, distortion and feedback. Before long some drums and bass enter the fray, producing grim sludgy sounds. After a couple of minutes of this the Continue reading “Prisoner 639/Throw Me in the Crater – Split (Review)”
Herem are a sludge metal band from Finland. This is their third album.
Ahh, heavy, sludgy doom. Always a pleasure to make your acquaintance.
Deep deathgrowls are backed up by serrated screams; both are very ably performed and both get the job done nicely. The singer’s voice Continue reading “Herem – III (Review)”
Black Tomb are a sludge/doom band from the US. This is their debut album.
Black Tomb appear to have congealed out of some dank, dark tar pit with the express purpose of creating bleak, filthy doom metal.
Think of Electric Wizard if they were a Continue reading “Black Tomb – Black Tomb (Review)”
This is the debut album from Jagged Mouth, a sludge/doom metal band from the US.
With the kind of scathingly high-pitched vocals that can strip skin at 100 paces, Jagged Mouth don’t mess around. This is slow and heavy sludge/doom that doesn’t care for being nice or pleasant in any way. Continue reading “Jagged Mouth – Louring (Review)”
Warped Cross are a sludge metal band from Germany and this is their début album.
This is underground filthy sludge metal that takes inspiration from bands like Eyehategod, Crowbar, Down, Corrosion of Conformity, Cathedral and Electric Wizard. There’s a hint of, (dirtied-up), grunge in their sound, (not too dissimilar from the recent Boss Keloid album), as well as some pinches of old-school punk. There’s even a touch of Type O Negative in places.
This is raw and utterly unpolished, but Continue reading “Warped Cross – Abbot of Unreason (Review)”
This is the fourth album from these US Sludge/Doom veterans.
Sourvein return with an aquatic-themed album, it seems.
The band play their sludge with a raw energy that seems to tap into something primeval and old, probably something lurking in the deepest waters in the darkest ocean.
With a heavy sound that’s warmly analogue, these songs have a kind of retro vibe to them that manages to eschew any of the normal bullshit trappings that such a term usually involves. Rather, what we have here is music that’s honest, visceral and not afraid to get dirty, (wet?).
The songs have groove and melody, both of which are used well throughout the playing time. It’s an endearing mix of influences that combine on this release, with everything from Electric Wizard, Eyehategod, Black Sabbath, Acid Bath and Mastodon making it into the melting pot.
Short tracks don’t outstay their welcome, and Sourvein know how to flourish a song with a relatively short playing time for maximum effect.
There are some quality and earthy, (aquatic?), guitar solos included, alongside a bass that just sounds really, really good.
The singer reveals himself to be quite versatile, with clean and rough singing, as well as throaty shouts used where necessary. He has a lot of presence and charisma, which can also be said of the songs as a whole. Taken together the music and the vocal performance make for a very strong collection of tracks that are both catchy and memorable.
Well, this is very, very enjoyable. Sourvein stick out from the crowd as having something a bit special and being a bit different from the norm.
You gotta get this, or Poseidon will be pissed.
Wonderbox Metal 