Friday 15 February 2019

ALBUM REVIEW: Hollow Leg, "Civilizations"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 25/01/2019
Label: Argonauta Records



This Florida outfit come on like a freight train- an unstoppable band channelling the spirit of early High on Fire

“Civilizations” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Litmus
2. Dirt Womb
3. Mountains of Stone
4. Black Moon
5. Hunter and the Hunted
6. Intro
7. Chimera
8. Akasha
9. Exodus

The Review

This Florida outfit come on like a freight train- an unstoppable band channelling the spirit of early High on Fire but moving a little slower. From the opening pounding of “Litmus”, you expect sludge and that's what you get.

That said, there is much more to this record- acoustic guitars and clean vocals on “Black Moon” are just the start. There is a fair amount of stoner-ish atmosphere (“Hunter and the Hunted”,Intro”) and some really cracking riffs. The production and mix are great; weighty and pleasing to listen to and the tempos are not just one slow pace. There are some real head-nodders in here too; “Chimera” is one of them and it utilises a mid-paced but oddly groovy approach. 

If you prefer a bit of gloom, then “Akasha” covers it well with some very doomy sounds that will appeal to even the most ardent Sabbath purist. The closing close-to-eight-minutes of “Exodus” is an expansive finish to a blinding record.

Hollow Leg inhabit the same kind of space as High on Fire (first album) but also cover the territory of Sleep, The Sword (early) and other bands who are on the doom/stoner/sludge spectrum whilst not quite fitting into one bracket. Recommended and really good.

“Civilizations” is available HERE


Band info: bandcamp || facebook