By: Matt Fitton
Album Type: Split 7inch
Date Released: 5/1/2013
Label:
Independent
First
up out of the blocks is the charmingly monickered 'Crater of Needles' by Headless Kross, Galloping along at hefty
pace, it's just the right mixture of sludge and doom. Think early High on Fire,
that kind of Sabbathy inspired punk/metal hybrid. There's a ripper of a solo
mid way through that really is the icing on the cake. The second half of this
split is occupied by War Iron and their offering, the evil puntastic 'Angelgrinder', Close your mouth when you
listen to it or your fillings may come loose. Throw in some viciously gargled
vocals and you may need to stare at some pictures of kittens for an hour
afterwards just to lift you out of the mind fog these dudes can inflict. Now
that's powerful.
“Headless Kross/War Iron” Split tracklisting
A)
HEADLESS
KROSS – “CRATER OF NEEDLES” (4:30)
B) WAR IRON – “ANGELGRINDER” (4:30)
B) WAR IRON – “ANGELGRINDER” (4:30)
The Review:
I
like split releases. They're a cost-friendly and usually highly collectible way
to discover like-minded bands, all neatly wrapped up in the same parcel. And
it's bargain day here at doom central - where it's always 'Black Friday'...
First
up out of the blocks is the charmingly monickered 'Crater of Needles'
by Headless
Kross. I love the raw production on this track; it conjures images
of long haired teens tape trading in the mid 80's, staring at walls in their
bedrooms because of how much their minds have been blown. Galloping along at hefty pace, it's just the right mixture
of sludge and doom. Think early High on Fire, that kind of Sabbathy
inspired punk/metal hybrid. There's a ripper of a solo mid way through that
really is the icing on the cake. And just like High on Fire these guys really
do prove how much beautiful noise a well-honed power trio really can make. It's
quality, not quantity.
The
second half of this split is occupied by War Iron and their offering, the evil
puntastic 'Angelgrinder' (who doesn't like an evil pun?). The first
thing you notice after letting this piece kick you in the teeth is the bass.
And the reason for that is that there are TWO bassists. And NO conventional
six-strings. Think about how heavy that must be for a second. Well, you're
wrong. It's even heavier than that. I used to believe that nothing could come
close to how bleak 'Streetcleaner' by Godflesh
is, but this is damn close. Close your mouth when you listen to it or your
fillings may come loose. Throw in some viciously gargled vocals and you may
need to stare at some pictures of kittens for an hour afterwards just to lift
you out of the mind fog these dudes can inflict. Now that's powerful.
Overall
a great showcase for some great home-grown talents. The future is bright for doom
and sludge right now. And ironically its groups like Headless Kross and War Iron
that are keeping it healthy.
Band info: H-K Bandcamp
|| H-K Facebook || W-I Bandcamp || W-I Facebook
