By: Peter
Morsellino
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 31/01/2020
Label: Cursed Monk Records
“GAWTHROP” CD//DD track listing:
1).
Exhaust
2).
Guru
3).
Blowtorch
4).
Irene
The Review:
I consider myself to be something of a
connoisseur of heavy music. I've heard A LOT of it in these past 30 years. It
is not often that something makes me stop and turn my head based on pure power
alone. But every now and again, I come across a sound that leaves me so
absolutely aghast that I simply cannot find the words to describe it.
Completely speechless. Gawthrop is one such band to create
these sounds. As such I was forced to consult my handy dictionary, and
beginning with the most logical starting point, this is what I was able to
piece together.
Heavy; immoderate, thick, dense, difficult to
bear. This is truly the only way to describe the music of Gawthrop. This is an all-consuming
sound. One that wraps you up and can be difficult to escape from. This will not
be an album for everyone, but if this particular brand of Sludge tends to peak
your interest, then its time to listen up.
Coming off of a tent pole year for the band,
with the release of their first demo and a string of high profile performances
including an opening slot for Eyehategod, Gawthrop
is poised to dominate the scope of heavy music in the year to come. With
earbud exploding riffs and a beat that rattles the earth to its very core, Gawthrop is a full on sonic attack.
With the physical rerelease of their demo
forthcoming, Gawthrop sets out to show the world at large just what they have
to offer. This Korean Sludge outfit storms out of the gate and tramples
everything in its way. Right from the start, opening track “Exhaust”
batters you with its dense atmosphere and thunderous beat. The assault
continues with comparatively riotous riffing of “Guru”, before slowing
down with some beautiful ambient tones that kick off funeral dirge “Blowtorch”.
The real star of this show is the rerelease exclusive “Irene”, a driving
sludge rocker of the highest quality.
In under twenty minutes, Gawthrop beats you down and
bludgeons you with noise and leaves you begging for more. This is a band to
keep an eye on. Great things are to come.
“GAWTHROP” is available HERE
