STRICKEN - From Dark Dimensions An Unspeakable Presence Awakens review

 

STRICKEN - From Dark Dimensions An Unspeakable Presence Awakens

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

While listening to this release I was checking out the band line-up. So I see that their drummer is Chris Wozniak who's also in LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR from Chicago, Illinois. Just for the record I'm a huge fan of LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR's early albums. But their comeback album this year was not that good in my not so humble opinion. . 

So getting into this release was at first like thinking it's gonna be LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR minus one. And it's something different. STRICKEN are a Sludge Metal band hailing from Seattle, Washington. And what they are doing is not YOB or anything from the NOLA side of the genre. 

A few months ago I was checking out a local NC band who were Sludge Metal but were pushing a more sonic approach to the sound. I mean the old school is there to like but the genre needs to be improved not in a stupid way but in a Metal way. And this local band was doing so.

STRICKEN are doing the same thing and I like it a lot.

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/from-dark-dimensions-an-unspeakable-presence-awakens

MEAN GREEN - Castle review

 

MEAN GREEN - Castle

Self Release

So here we have the second full length by North Carolina's MEAN GREEN. Personally I like the band name. They're a three piece Sludge Metal / Stoner Doom act from Boone, North Carolina. Just for the record Boone, NC is known for a few things. First off it's in the Western part of the state where the Blue Ridge Mountains are. Appalachian State University is out there also known as App - State. Graduates from there are also called Boone Hippies. But hey years ago their football team beat Michigan which was a major upset. 

Anyways when it comes to Sludge Metal / Stoner Rock, North Carolina (aka: my state) has had it's share of great bands in this genre. Just to name a few there's been SOUL PREACHER, WEEDEATER, BONGZILLA and a few more. Some people like to say BUZZ-OVEN are an NC band but honestly they moved around from NC to Virginia, to Louisiana and back again depending on the drugs available and people they screwed over because of it. CORROSION OF CONFORMITY were never a Sludge Metal or a Doom band despite what revisionists (who never lived in NC) say on the internet. 

With that all said MEAN GREEN on this release will not get any old school fans to jump up and shout as saviors of a genre in need of help. They're all burned out anyways and maybe will show up at a EYE HATE GOD reunion show long enough to buy a new shirt and call an Uber to get em home before eleven PM.

But to new school fans it could be different. I'm sure MEAN GREEN has been playing to audiences who drink Michelob Ultra and swear to WIDESPREAD PANIC. Musically I'm not down with their whole psycho Sludge stuff early on this release. Better yet I like when they go into their Stoner atmosphere Metal style. I'm not gonna name drop. Instead I'll just say the sound reminds me of cool stuff by past acts I already like. 

Add to that the quality of the musicians involved. The cool bass lines from Cole Franklin are totally head banging. James Matthews is an amazing drummer. Finally there's Jake Helms who delivers a thick, sick guitar tone. The same thing can be said for his vocals. The guy produces a blackened venomous singing tone which is cool in my book. 

Like I slightly mentioned earlier MEAN GREEN are probably a perfect example of a new school bringing life and excitement to an old worn out genre. In so doing they bring in new fans who probably didn't know this type of extreme metal existed. To me that's cool and I give this band props for it. In all honesty I'd rather sit home and blast this then go downtown and see WEEDEATER for the tenth time. Nuff Said!

 

LISTEN TO AND BUY IT HERE:

https://meangreen.bandcamp.com/album/castle

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR - I Hail I review

 

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR - I Hail I

The Grind-House Records

So there's a lot to unpack here. As far as anticipated albums go this was an obvious pick for me as far as 2026 goes. This band's last album, Evil Power, from 2010 is definitely a classic in my book. It was their fourth album and definitely their best. Plus I was already a fan of them from two previous albums.

LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR hail from Chicago, Illinois. They started out in 2003 as a three piece Sludge Metal / Thrash act. Now for you ignorant types, Sludge Metal came about when late 1980's Hardcore musicians started listening to BLACK SABBATH. They started incorporating the fast meets slow ideal. There are way too many early examples but by the 1990's you had bands coming out in the Metal scene who were Sludge Metal. 

When LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR finally hit the scene it was easy to like em because they came from Chicago, Illinois which had a history of Extreme Metal acts who didn't color inside the lines when it came to certain genres of Metal. Hell I'm still a USURPER / BONES fan till this day and that's just two name drops. 

So that was then and this is now some sixteen years later. As far as the line-up goes it's still Steven Rathbone as vocalist, guitarist and he adds the keyboards. Drummer Chris Wozniak is still in the fold. But on bass they have a new recruit who is well known in the Chicago area not only as a musician but a producer. I'm talking about Sanford Parker. 

As far as I Hail I goes it's not a great come back album as one would hope for. The first half of the album is reminiscent of their past aggressive work. I like that to a point other than being more causal than extreme. "Fucked Inside Out" and "Prowler Twin Sister" are memorable tracks. Everything else is kinda lackluster. It's kinda like drinking a six pack and by the fourth beer you're like I think I'm done. 

The last two cuts on this album sealed my overall opinion. "Vulture Worship" was a throwaway track but "Tartarus Apocalypse" is a seven minute plus Sludgey Doom boring opus of banality. Hey you were hot years ago but now your dead. Trust me, it comes with age. Except it or look pathetic.

https://www.thegrind-houserecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://lairoftheminotaur.bandcamp.com/album/i-hail-i-2

IRON SLUG - Deceit and Misery review

 

IRON SLUG - Deceit and Misery

Road to Masochist Records

I've said it before but it bares repeating. Regardless if a new band sounds like something you've heard in the past. If they're good at what they do then that's all it matters. Case in point if you played me this and asked where this band came from. I'd say somewhere in the Midwest USA maybe Indiana or Illinois. And I'd be really fuckin wrong.

 

IRON SLUG, great band name by the way, are a two piece Sludgey Doom act from Kent, England, Hey let's give it up for Kent! They originally started out in 2022. Since then they've released a demo plus a handful of short form releases. Deceit and Misery is their five song full length debut. Which means there's a few long cuts which trudge along. 

So what's cool about this album / band, well everything. The line-up consists of Will Rayner on guitars & vocals and Will Bond who plays bass, drums and gives backing vocals. Now like I mentioned earlier musically this is classic sounding Sludgey Doom which is as American as apple pie. and it's done so fuckin well. 

Not only are the riffs bone crushing but the overall atmosphere with the rhythm section gives off this mournful atmosphere. Will Rayner is a damm cool vocalist. He keeps things sounding clean but painful. Remember people it's Doom therefore we're not happy. 

Yeah this is a great debut album by IRON SLUG. Keep an eye on this band because I predict they'll be huge and not just because of their mammoth sized riffs.     

https://roadtomasochist.co.uk/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_wGNoC6lGs

ZOMBIE EATER - Faces review

 

ZOMBIE EATER - Faces

Argonauta Records

Here's another Finnish band delving into old school Sludge Metal with cool results in my not so humble opinion. ZOMBIE EATER are a three piece act who don't play fuckin games. They just play Sludge Metal from it's original form with the volume turned up to 11. 

On this their debut full length ZOMBIE EATER deliver the goods as far as solid riffs, serpentine vocals and a fuckin great groove throughout this eight cut album. The musicianship is fuckin fantastic. The only sad note is that it's a great Sludge Metal album twenty five to thirty years passed it's born on date. 

For me personnally this band is great, I like this release a lot. It's great Sludge Metal. But it's honestly retro all the way. Hopefully some fan's of this genre will see past their jaded attitudes and enjoy the living fuck out of this one.  

https://www.argonautarecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://zombieeater.bandcamp.com/album/faces-2

ILON LAPSET - Mykka pimeys review

ILON LAPSET - Mykka pimeys

Visceral Circuitry Records

For me personally my appreciation for Sludge Metal died in the late summer of 2021. That was the night when I was at a show and a quarter of the way through the headlining act's set I walked out. Now the headliner was a big name band of the Sludge Metal scene who I had seen three times over their long career. Now that night the first two bands were great and both well known as well as me being a fan of. But the headliner was just the same old thing again. Actually I think I've seen em four times before that show.

If you've been in the Extreme Metal scene for four or five decades you will find yourself jaded even though you just don't want to be. So for the past couple of years while I ignore the generic stuff from this genre I'm always looking for an outlier. I do find one per year and here we have another cool one. 

This is the second full length by Finland's ILON LAPSET. They are a four piece act who started out back in 2020. So what's cool about this band is that their sound / style reminds me when Sludge first started. The sound had it's roots in the underground Punk / Hardcore scene in the late 80's. Some bands would come out playing it SABBATH-IAN low and slow with a maniac on vocals. 

That's what ILON LAPSET are doing on this six song release. You've got crushing music with tortured vocals and it's an old school reminder for me. I saw bands like this back in the day at local shows who never went further than releasing a demo tape. The HC kids were left fucked up because they couldn't slam dance to the music. I'd be in the back standing there with a beer going "this is insane and I like it". 

ILON LAPSET bring about this claustrophobic intense sound which fuckin rules. There's an atmosphere of pain and dread throughout this release. There are a few US bands from the late 1990's who they remind me of but I am not name dropping here. This is just great Sludge Metal that's not generic as legendary acts are doing. If you're a fan of Sludge Metal than this is the release you need to get. 

LISTEN TO & ORDER HERE:

https://ilonlapset.bandcamp.com/album/mykk-pimeys

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - King Of The Kill 3 compilation

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS -  King Of The Kill 3 compilation

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Sometimes when I listen to a compilation I find myself making note of the songs I don't like when the majority of the comp is cool. In this case yeah most of this sounds cool. To be more exact most of these cuts are Extreme Metal for crazed fans in the underground realm who like to get drunk, have crazy fun and beat people up. I know all about that because I was one of those people. But in all honesty I only beat up bad people. 

This is the third year where Horror Pain Gore Death Productions puts out an Extreme Metal compilation dedicated to the Ruthless Pro Wrestling yearly event called King Of The Kill. Now for those of you out there who are like "oh no wrestling is fake". I have a few words for ya. The outcomes are pre-determined but the physical brawling is real. And yeah people are injured but no one wants that to happen. 

As someone who grew up with Professional Wrestling (Wrassling) in the 1970's I'll tell ya when ECW out of Philly came around in their early days it was the best of Extreme Wrestling. I've still got VHS tapes of various matches where people in the audience would hand wrestlers frying pans to pound their opponents head in with. Another match an audience member handed a wrestler his prosthetic leg to use as a weapon. And of course during a Terry Funk match the crowd just threw all of their metal chairs into the ring. 

With all of that said Ruthless Pro Wrestling is worse. I mean the wrestling competitors will all walk out of the squared circle bloodied and if not standing then lying on the mat in a pool of their own blood. It's like ancient Roman gladiator games minus the swords. Which is why it's called a Deathmatch tournament. So this label, HPGD, decides to come out with another compilation of bands from their label to celebrate people beating the crap of people. Albeit these ain't wrestling themed songs but they're in that Extreme Metal style. 

As far this compilation goes I have to admit that I'm more a fan of the Death Metal acts on here but overall I do have some favorites. Bands like ELBOW DEEP and ANCESTOR OF KAOS are pretty good DM with punishment sounding stuff. ORGAN DEALER rule with their Grindcore attack. BOCC are trudging Death Doom and yeah I like it. RED BRICK are screeching Grindcore. LESCH-NYHAN is knuccle dragging BDM. THE CRIPPLER comes in with a cool as fuck Death Thrash cut. 

Next up we have fuckin MUTILATRED killing it with some great BDM. That's followed by an amazing band to which I've written about before and they are PUTRASCENSION. This is cool sounding Melodic Black Fuckin Metal. You need to own their latest full length. If you don't then I'm gonna call you horrible names. Next up is MAUSOLEUM great OSDM that fuckin rules! 

Now we come to the crazy shit of this compilation. COCAINE CULTURE is Black Metal but doesnt invite me to see the devil but still it's cool. MUDSHOW is brutal sounding Sludge. MATSUNAGA WAS RIGHT contributes the best 25 second Grind cut you ever heard in your fuckin life. ROAD PIG is interesting but I don't know whatafuck to call it. MOONS is basic Stoner Rock and normally I wouldn't give two fucks about em. But after all of the brutal abuse to the psyche this comp delivers hell ya probably need a joint to relax. KOSUKE HASHIDA delivers some good Death Thrash. MENTAL FUNERAL deliver the OSDM. The final cut is by the band L.M.I. and once again I don't know what to call it. Is it Hardcore or Metal or both?

Whatever the case Horror Pain Gore Death Productions has unleashed a whirlwind of a compilation here. 

https://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/king-of-the-kill-3

THE CIMMERIAN - An Age Undreamed Of review

THE CIMMERIAN - An Age Undreamed Of 

Self Released

This release falls into my category of give it a couple of listens and think ahead as well as the possibilities. This is the debut full length by THE CIMMERIAN a three piece act from Los Angeles, California. Sorry about the wild fires guys and I hope you're alright. 

Musically the genre tagline here is Sludge Metal / Stoner Rock which automatically I'd be bored with from the onset especially if it was your average stuff. But what makes THE CIMMERIAN a cool listen is that their bassist / vocalist Nicolas Rocha and guitarist Dave Gein where both in the Thrash / Crossover band SEPTIK ONSLAUGHT. So their sound has a lot of that going on within it. 

Let's add to that with the fact that on a couple of cuts this band reminds me in a way of some of my Midwest Doom favorites. We're talking epic fantasy stuff. So you've got thunderous bass lines and these gruff vocals. The guitar work is cool as fuck. "Silver and Gold" and "Darkwolf" are probably my favorite tracks on here. But hey with eight tracks altogether, seven of em long epic numbers with the opener an instrumental, it's all damm good. 

If I had a complaint it's that there are times when the drum work gets clicky if you know what I mean. Music like this needs to be totally organic sounding. With that said I won't be surprised if this release is re-pressed on a major Metal label later this year and THE CIMMERIAN are the next big thing. Don't laugh because I'm 50/50 on those types of predictions. Anyways good stuff here so check em out. Although I can't say anything nice about the album cover art. WTF?

LISTEN TO & BUY IT HERE:

https://thecimmerian.bandcamp.com/album/an-age-undreamed-of-2

 

AZELL - Death Control review

 

AZELL - Death Control

Rottweiler Records

Just to be honest with ya, sludge ridden death doom is as common here in the US South as is grits. Now if you don't know what grits are well they're a staple for breakfast here in the South. I don't eat grits but every other Southern motherfucker does. But anyways as far as the music genre goes yeah the whole turn it up, tune it down and go slow has been around for fuckin decades. I believe someone actually made a documentary about it years ago. 

Anyways when I saw the tagline as far it being sludge / death doom ya know I was gonna pass on it. But I read the promo info then figured it might be interesting and hell yeah I'm glad I did. AZELL are a two piece husband and wife sludge / doom duo hailing from Louisville, Kentucky. OK so they're married and playing this type of extreme music so that's something different. The two people are Courtney Napier who plays bass and is the lead vocalist. David Napier is the guitarist, drummer and adds lead and background vocals.

Death Control is the duo's debut full length since starting out in 2022. Prior to releasing this album they just put out digital singles. So musically this is fairly common sludge / doom but with a few extra touches that make it interesting. First and foremost I think Courtney Napier's vocals are amazing. She's got this sick acid tongue guttural screech that's damm good. When David Napier adds in his vocals he's sounds just as sick but more of a gross guttural sound. 

Musically their brand of sludge / death doom is benefited by a lo-fi production that emphasizes the filth covered sound. And you wanna talk about slowness? Listening to this is akin to watching a turtle drag a cinder block through tar. The band provides a solid wall of noise to effect your ear drums. Even with all of that AZELL do add in some sinister monolithic atmosphere on tracks like "A-M" and "Wallow". 

Going back to my earlier points yeah you've probably heard something similar. I'm not gonna name drop because it would be redundant. The bottom line is that Death Control is a pretty good debut album from AZELL. And I'm rooting for em so next time around hopefully they're be commonly known as the names others might drop in order to describe em. Yeah it's a winner.

https://www.rottweilerrecords.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://azellrr.bandcamp.com/album/death-control

Paralysis Volume One Compilation review

Hey I like Sludge Metal and frankly who doesn't. Now there are a few four letter words that all people into metal know well. One of em is the word FREE. Yes if your're into Sludge Metal then here's a cool compilation for you to check out, for free. 

Personally I lost a week or two of my life listening to this compilation but hey it was worth it.

LISTEN HERE:

https://sludgelordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/paralysis-vol-1

LURK - Aegis review

 

LURK - Aegis

Transcending Obscurity Records

I've been bored with sludge metal for over a decade now. Mainly it's been the stuff I hear/heard from where I live in the states. I mean seriously I walked out of an EYEHATEGOD show a few years ago in the middle of their set. It was just fucking boring. Also I've seen em a bunch of times before. Recently there's been a show featuring a local Southern sludge act who I've also seen before and I passed on it because I don't want to be bored.

Yes people I'm a proud American but our sludge scene, which we created, is boring. The whole Southern/NOLA is done with. Also the hippie, proggy sludge thing has been played out and isn't worth your time. In fact the last time I heard a cool sounding sludge band, they were from Europe. And here's another one. LURK is a four piece sludgey doom act from Finland. The first time I heard em was back in 2016 with their third full length Fringe. Here we are seven years later with their fourth one.

What makes LURK so fuckin great? Well first off they don't just pummel the listener with repetitive heavy handed riffs and a time signature split per song. LURK create a foreboding atmosphere similar to a black metal style sound. Then they toss in the sludge dirge or on other cuts bring in some death doom. Add to that are the horrific vocals whether it's some harsh screams or deep bear like singing. 

There's this non pigeon-hole perspective about their sound. It's like the soundtrack to the climatic chapter to a horror novel. LURK hold you in a cold handed grip. Sound-wise there's these great tones of despair mixed with painful ventures into punishment. Each of these seven cuts are like new wounds being opened and explored. Yes this is amazing.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://lurkdoom.bandcamp.com/album/aegis-sludge-doom-metal

71TONMAN - Of End Times review

 

71TONMAN - Of End Times

Transcending Obscurity Records

The band's name pretty much tells you almost everything you would expect. What we have here is an exploration through the center of a black hole. Yeah this is heavy and dense atmospheric sludge metal. Trust me I'd love to have cranked this one on the outdoor back deck speakers on New Years Day morning say around 8 AM. My neighbors with hangovers would literally die of cranial trauma. Heads would explode! 

This is the third full length by Poland's 71TONMAN. I first learned about em back in 2021 with their War Is Peace /Peace Is Slavery EP. Now I've mentioned it a few times over the years that I'm personally sludged out when it comes to this genre. But every once in a great while a newer band will bring back my interest in the genre. 71TONMAN did that with their EP and now we have this new full length.

What you have here are four long drawn out cuts spanning just short of forty minutes in album length. As the title Of End Times indicates the four cuts are all about the end of it all literally. And in using sludge ridden doom to illustrate the point. The band manages to create suffocating and dismal interpretations of "Conquest", "Plague", "War " and "Famine". Those are the titles of the songs on here.

Please note that this band are not breaking new ground in this genre. But they are all about breaking things, mainly souls. The riffs just fuckin crush in a unforgiving torturous way. Misery hasn't  sounded this good in a while for me. The vocals still come off as if sung by a drunken bear. And I mean that in a good way. Finally I love how well the drum work is delivered on these cuts.

What a great way to start the new year with a not so fresh optimistic attitude.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://71tonmanband.bandcamp.com/album/of-end-times-sludge-doom-metal

VARIOUS ARTISTS - 4 Way Split compilation review

 

VARIOUS ARTISTS - 4 Way Split compilation

Sludgelord Records

Welcome back to the wonderful world of four band compilations. Instead of four bands contributing one song a piece, which kinda sucks, These acts get to include a handful. So basically it's like getting four EPs on one disc. By the way that's a good deal.

As far as the bands go you've got WALLOWING who are a blackened sludge act from England. Sludgelord Records released the band's debut full length, Planet Loss, back in 2019. Their two tacks on here are decent as far as bands performing in that sub genre go.

Next up is a band called THIN and I have no info on them. Basically their a grind band of the newer school chaotic style. Their eight cuts on here are nothing to scream about unless you count what their singer does which is screaming. Their contribution goes into the headache pile. 

They're followed by SLABDRAGGER, a three piece sludge metal act from England. What is up with England's new found sludge rock mania? Basically they're a cross between EYEHATEGOD and the MELVINS on a good day. Their three songs on here are representative of an OK day.

Finally there's VIXEN MAW who again I have no information about. But musically they're noise, grind or whatever the fuck horror inspired experimental stuff you care to call it. I did hear a female voice scream on one of their songs. Personally not my thing but hey you might like em as well as this compilation since the variety is awesome.

LISTEN HERE:

https://sludgelordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/4-way-split?from=fanpub_fnb_pr

71TONMAN - War Is Peace, Peace Is Slavery EP review

 

71TONMAN - War Is Peace, Peace Is Slavery EP

Transcending Obscurity Records

Just for the record, Poland has really started to have a decent sludge metal scene. I mean overall that nation's musicians have done everything in high levels when it comes to extreme metal. So it's about time for some sludgy creeping filth. I've been hearing a few acts before and 71TONMAN is the latest for me. Of course a three song EP is not a bad way either.

War Is Peace, Peace Is Slavery is the fourth release by this Polish five piece act. Prior to this one they've put out two full lengths and a split. As far as this one goes there's an Orwellian take on the song titles. You've got "War Is Peace", "Peace Is Slavery" and "Ignorance Is Strength". 

The first two cuts come off as basically Sludge Metal 101. You've got your slow filthy riffs which crush, kill and destroy. The rhythm section carries things along in similar fashion. The vocals are bestial in an almost garbled way. Actually the singer sounds like a drunken bear which is kind of a change. 

Musically this does have a creepy fascination as far as sludge goes. The band does know when to break from the pattern and inject some beauty via an atmospheric break. At other times the band can get quite vicious like on the second track. Punch in some speedy moments amid the pummeling sounds.

The third song is kind of a bore since it's simply ambient sounds with the singer whispering, muttering or talking in his sleep. I don't know. It's nine plus minutes long and after the six minute mark I kept going back to the first two cuts which are pretty cool. When it's comes to liking newer sludge metal bands I always think "well it's better than those hipsters from over a decade ago who invaded the metal scene." Yeah this EP by 71TONMAN have peaked my interest into wanting to know what they've done before.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://71tonmanband.bandcamp.com/album/war-is-peace-peace-is-slavery-sludge-doom-metal

OLDE - Pilgrimage review

OLDE - Pilgrimage

Sludgelord Records

Personally after all these years listening to extreme music I must admit. I'm sludged out and stonered to death as far as those two doom sub-genres go. So these days whenever I check out a release by a band playing that style of doom. They've gotta kick some royal ass. And that's coming from a guy who bought his first SABBATH album back in 1974 at the age of ten. So yeah I'm a sucker for bands who got the riffs as long as if they've got a hell lot more. 

Which brings us to this band OLDE and their second full length Pilgrimage. OLDE is a five piece act from Canada. I never heard their debut so this is all fresh to me. So when I was listening to their opening and title track it was like being drawn into something fuckin amazing. You've got the angst ridden barked vocals, bombastic riffs and a huge reliance on atmosphere in their song structures. 

This release is eight cuts worth of all that and plenty of non descriptive genre outliers, fiery guitar noodling and an attitude which defies the would be sludgey elephant in the room analogy if you know what/who I mean. What I love about this band's music is how their songs never get repetitive. A new door is always being opened for the listener to enter and scream "Hell Fuckin Yeah"! OLDE make contemporary sludge metal exciting again.   

LISTEN AND ORDER HERE:

https://sludgelordrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pilgrimage

 

EREMIT - Bearer of Many Names review

 

EREMIT - Bearer of Many Names 

Transcending Obscurity Records

This is my second time writing about a full length by this sludgy German doom band. I left off back in 2018 with their debut, Carrier of Weight. That was a three song, one hour experience. This new one is the same as in three songs spanning a few minutes past an hour in play time. 

When it comes to song craft EREMIT, on this as well as their last full length release, give you two choices. The first is tranquil atmospheric sounds that lull you into a comfortable setting. You kick back in the chair. You don't need headphones so you turn up the volume, relax and then all hell breaks loose. 

EREMIT are at their best when they break loose. We're talking something akin to YOB with painful blackened vocals. Hellfire and brimstone is failing from the sky. Your neighbor's car alarm is set off. And twenty minutes later the police show up at your home asking if you've got a band playing in your house. Yes it's heavy, it's crushing and mean as fuck.

I will say this, their debut album was much more explosive to me. Nothing against this one of course. The sounds are amazing, the vocals are horrific to say the least. I think the album cover is similar to their debut. Maybe we're looking at a trilogy. Either way it's good.

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://eremitdoom.bandcamp.com/album/bearer-of-many-names-sludge-doom-metal

WOORMS - Twitching, as Prey review

WOORMS - Twitching, as Prey

Sludgelord Records




WOORMS are a three piece sludge (and much more) band from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I learned about em last year via their debut full length, Slake. I thought that album was decent with the exception of their overuse of samples and other extras. You had a good band underneath all of the shiny wrappings. Plus they were not going to be defined by that whole NOLA sound. 


This their second full length is probably a true personification of this band. The first album showed promise and this one let's their character show. Lots of cool things going on here. A good portion of this ten track album is filled with muck covered, swamp thing like MELVINS' style sludge. I'm talking about heavy handed bass riffs, tribal drumwork, decent enough guitars but vocals that are seething with comtept as if a head rose from the depths and cursed you.


Other times there's some acid head jamming which I think is cool as long as it's heavy. Next the SABBATH - ian grooves kick in on some cuts and then it's basically a return to that Desert Sessions stuff from their first album. Throw in a hint of good WHITE ZOMBIE and you've got headbanging plus slam pit action. In the end this falls into that category as a great listening experience. 


https://thesludgelord.bandcamp.com/album/twitching-as-prey

https://www.facebook.com/WOORMS-820255734812259/

WITCHKISS - Transformation EP review

WITCHKISS - Transformation EP

Self Released




WITCHKISS are a three piece sludgey doom act from upstate New York. I know of this band from writing about their full length debut, The Austere Curtains of Our Eyes, which came out in 2018. That one was decent as far as having sonic control on the genre standards while adding atmospheric texture to some of their cuts.


Like I said it was decent but generally there are a ton of similar bands out there. Something like that gets lost in the pack, good or not. But on here the band seems to have made a slight adjustment. They still use duel vocals (male & female). They've mastered the haunting airy vibe and still inject in some heavy handed crush sounds with the big fuckin thud. 


Personally this comes across like the contents of a YOB and WINDHAND sandwich. On that note I like it and you genre fans should as well. There are way too many clones of the name dropped acts I just mentioned out there. Being inbetween is a good touch. 


Another thing I like about this WITCHKISS release is that it's short form. Here they lay down two great songs. And if you get it from their Bandcamp site you'll receive a bonus-track. But anyway my main complaint with their debut was it's length. This style is exciting in short bursts albeit eight to ten plus minute songs. In the end it's great stuff.

https://witchkiss.bandcamp.com/album/transformation

https://www.facebook.com/witchkissband/

EREMIT - Desert of Ghouls EP review

EREMIT - Desert of Ghouls EP

Transcending Obscurity Records




There are times when I wish I were drunk then I'd get away with some of the things I say on my website. Unfortunately that is not one of those times when listening to this band's release. So who's up for some fuzzy riffs and pounding drums of sludgy German doom? OK if you're getting ready for a 2020 Wachen campout then feel excluded.


This is the second release by this German three piece act. Their debut was 2018's Carrier of Weight which back then I said was as good of a time you could have listening to sludgey doom which absorbs you. The band is more into taking you on an atmospheric trip then a groove laden ride or a beat down. We certainly have enough choices of the latter two to choose from.


Their latest is a two long song journey. The first cut "Beheading the Innumerous" is a nine minute beast which crawls along at a snail's pace. It's heavy on the fuzz and scorching on the vocals. To me I think it's a monster leftover from the full length. 


Strangely enough it's their second cut "City of Rash-il-num" which I found far more interesting. For starters it surpasses the twelve minute mark. It starts out as an trance inducing atmospheric cut with beautiful ambiance. The guitars and drum work are completely simple yet they slowly build up. About halfway in the vocals and fuzz laden groove kicks into play. In the end both cuts are damm good.


https://tometal.com/

https://eremitdoom.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/EremitDoom/

MOONS - Go Out Swinging review

MOONS - Go Out Swinging

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions



Normally whenever HPGD sends a release in for review the band(s) tend to on par with a cheetah late for supper. Yeah we're talking about speed. But once in a while, and I'm gonna use a baseball analogy, you're standing at the plate waiting for a fastball and the pitcher throws a slider that you totally swing over. Back in my sport days instead of getting mad when that happened. I'd look at the pitcher, smile and point out to him "you got me".


And that is what we have here folks. MOONS is a three piece sludgey doom act from the great state of Pennsylvania. I say great because I use to live there. But anyways I'm not going to say that this debut full length by MOONS is a progressive thought paragon. Nor am I about to say it has a sound which will carry you on bong exhales to an astral plane of transcendental meditation. This ain't some hiptard blog and I'm not a liar.


What is really cool about this release is that MOONS are not part of the whole generic genre over statement which I hear with many bands in the sludgey stoner doom category. Sure on the six cuts of this release they touch the surfaces. But it's their musicianship and song structure style that make em cool as fuck.


Sure they're heavy but not riff-centric or SABBATH humping. The bass and guitar playing starts at a crossroads and then separates while the drumwork keeps a frantic cohesiveness. The vocals are caustic screams of your attention as opposed to cries of help. I like this because their sound is intricate. There's definitely a 70's vibe of classic power trio functioning with modern day doom. This band needs to be known.



http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/go-out-swinging-2

https://www.facebook.com/heavymoons/