REVIEW: Greenhorn / Urchin - "Greenhorn / Urchin" (Split)

By: Stephen Murray

Album Type: Split

Date Released: 10/03/2017

Label: Independent

“Greenhorn/Urchin” DD//LP Track listing:

1. Greenhorn – “The Narrator”

2. Urchin – “Meteor Blade”

The Review:

What is it with the sea and some of doom’s more sombre bands? The rich nautical repertoire of songs about the hauntings of dead sailors, ghost ships and ungainly, ill-omened seabirds notwithstanding, the Big Water has proved an irresistible draw for many bands. Indeed, there appears to be three themes prevalent in doom right now: the sea, the occult and H.P. Lovecraft, and the greatest of these is Lovecraft (go on, argue for the occult; I’m listening).

Written over three months and recorded live in a few hours, albeit with two different vocal sessions, Greenhorn’s “The Narrator” evokes the sea through a petroleum-jelly-soft Lovecraftian lens. Not to say this track lacks throat, rather that it balances gnarled guitar tones that roil and gurgle with the allure and seduction of ethereal Siren calls rendered in beautiful-if-creepy sung harmonies. The rich vintage glow swathed about both guitar and bass in the solos satisfies like muscovado sugar, bringing melody to the fore of the song’s nigh twenty minute span.

And this is why it is so well paired with Urchin’s “Meteor Blade.” We are back down to the forbidding water’s edge, but more than that, we have a vintage feel and a haunting, darkling melody carefully stitched onto something primal and untamed. The vintage here is different, however, calling back cassette tapes left to go brittle on a sunbleached dashboard and the hazy reverb of the 90s alternative scene. Indeed, halfway through the song a delicate, woozy melody leverages a fair slab of pathos before breaking out once again in wails of agony.

Altogether a well-matched release allowing both acts to shine their own eerie lights, and with plenty of aggro, but with the emotional variation and nostalgic tones selling it.

“Greenhorn/Urchin” is available for download here (Greenhorn) and here (Urchin)

Band info: Greenhorn Bandcamp Greenhorn Facebook || Urchin Bandcamp Urchin Facebook

The Sludgelord Song Premiere - "Dungeoness" by Pensevor

By: Aaron Pickford

The constant and blossoming UK doom scene shows little if no sign of slowing down, indeed Hibernacula Records have been at the forefront, releasing some incredible releases from likes of Greenhorn, Tides of Sulfur and more recently with the magnificent debut by Garganjua. It is no surprise then, that another sludge infused colossus is but a few months away from causing your lugholes irreparable aural damage.

Hibernacula Records will release “Klothod”; the full-length debut by Pensevor.  Hailing from Farnborough, UK, their new album is described as eight tracks of doom-infused sludge that combines insane vocals with a back-end straight out of hell. “Klothod” is due to be released on May 6 2016 and is available for pre order here

In anticipation, the band has teamed up with The Sludgelord to premiere their new song, “Dungeoness.” Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

"A Year in Review": The Sonic 6 of Sludge 2015

By: Aaron Pickford

As part of our review of 2015, over the coming days, I will present the definitive “Sour 16” for 2015 and this will be generated by looking at all releases throughout the year, however I thought it would also be cool to look at specific genres too and whilst I would have loved to have generated a “Sour 16” for each popular genre at The Sludgelord, that would have taken up an inexplicable amount of time. Of course we all gravitate to a favourite genre, however each has its own merit, therefore I thought it would be a good idea to highlight, “six of the best” releases of 2015 within our most popular genres.  So today, as we reflect upon an awesome year of music in 2015, we present the Sludge “Sonic 6” for 2015

The Sludgelord’s ‘Sonic 6’ for 2015 is compiled based upon page views alone and calibrated into the list below, we will be presenting further lists during the lead up to Christmas, but for today roll up, kick back and Hail the riff!  Check out the Sludge “Sonic 6” for 2015 (full reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and total views since the date of publication are highlight in red). 

6). Limb – “Terminal” (607)

All in all, Terminal builds on what Limb have already achieved and is ultimately better than their top notch debut. The tracks on Terminal are well crafted, and the whole piece is tighter throughout. Absolutely no time is wasted on the album with every note being completely integral to the success of the album

5). The Moth – “And Then Rise” (621)

“And Then Rise” is simply unmissable on every level.

4). Greenhorn – “Like Rows Of Crooked Teeth” (773)

Truthfully, my first listen to Greenhorn left an everlasting impression, they truly are a force in the UK doom scene and this album only strengthens that belief. Give this album a listen; let them leave an impression on you too, because what’s so brilliant about them is that as well as being seriously fucking heavy, you get a history lesson  thrown in too’

3). Torche – “Restarter” (833)

To scrape a nit comb over this record, there is little originality in the noises that rattle your eardrums here. There’s nothing we haven’t heard and felt from the Miami four piece before, but  I for one am just delighted to hear another Torche record and I have no doubt that the vast majority of the already converted will see ‘Restarter’ as faultless.

2). The Body/Thou – “You, Whom I Have Always Hated” (1240)

It’s exceptionally rare that an album, or a work of art for that matter, can effectively convey terror, but throughout this release I was struggling to think of comparable works of art and kept returning to masters of horror fiction: Poe, Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti. Like each of these authors, The Body and Thou manage to create concise, compact stories of horror, which, when collected, should be seen as guidebooks to human terror and masterworks of nuanced, unbridled genius.

1). Dopethrone – “Hochelaga” (1560)

The album is, in a word, massive. Beware the listener that clicks play on this with cheap speakers. You'll soon need to replace them simply because of the sludgy, waxy build-up their riffs will leave on the speaker material. They play some of the nastiest blues you'll find outside of Satan's record collection, focusing on booze, rebellion, occult, sex, and of course, drugs.

Reviews featured in this article were written by: Hunter Young, Mark Ambrose, Phil Weller, Chris Bull, Steve Howe, Dominic Walsh

Greenhorn - 'Like Rows Of Crooked Teeth' (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 01/04/2015

Label: Black Bow Records/

Hibernacula Records

‘That's what's so brilliant about Greenhorn; as well as being seriously fucking heavy, you get a history lesson  thrown in too’

'Like Rows Of Crooked Teeth' CD//DD track Listing:

1). They Said It Was Treason So They Cut Her Fucking Head Off

2). Kentucky Boone

3). Long Drop

4). Witch's Bridle

5). Dead Man's Hill

6). Like Rows of Crooked Teeth

7). Outro

Greenhorn is:

Sid | Bass, vocals

AJ | Guitar

Vlad | Drums

The Review:

Greenhorn's demo, released in 2013 was good enough for Terrorizer to label them "the future of British doom" and with this, their first full length, it's not hard to see why. "Like Rows of Crooked Teeth" was produced by producer extraordinaire and current Conan bassist Chris Fielding, indeed he has put his weighty stamp all over this.

'They Said It Was Treason So They Cut Her Fucking Head Off' starts with a simplistic lonely guitar riff before the proceeding monolithic slab of superb doom. Guitarist AJ's sound is thick with fuzz and sounds like he used tar to lube his strings. Vocalist/Bassist Sid's voice is harsh and evil as he sings about Lady Alice Lisle and her execution in the Bloody Assizes. Blood curdling stuff. Second track 'Kentucky Boone' features the vocal talents of Conan's Jon Davis whose high pitched banshee wail fits perfectly with the weighty riffs on this story of Wild West outlaw Helm Boone.

That's what's so brilliant about Greenhorn; as well as being seriously fucking heavy, you get a history lesson thrown in too. 'Long Drop' is a relatively short affair, the opening drum fill from (now former) drummer Vinnie prompted my girlfriend to restart the track 5 or 6 times before I could give the song a proper listen. The vocals are belched rhythmically over the simple yet compelling riffs making this a song that's impossible not to nod along to. A rerecording of 'Witches Bridle' from their demo is up next, Sid showing he can do melodic vocals if he wants. The eerie melody of this song and the grim subject matter (the torture and Execution of an elderly woman at the North Berwick witch trials) provides a sinister edge.

'Deadman's Hill' builds with some almost military drums and wailing feedback before the ridiculously catchy main riff batters you. Around the 4 minute mark it all breaks down to a slow crawl before another brilliant riff takes the song to metallic territory, whilst Sid screams "she was filled with his cum" over and over. Finally the title track and the minute long outro, 'Like Rows of Crooked Teeth' features samples of an interview with American psychopath Carroll 'Ed' Cole mere hours before his execution, played over the toe-tappingly terrific intro and the stellar main riffs, which have the density of an imploding planet. The screeching feedback leads off into the outro which deceptively lulls  you into believing you're about to hear another song with a brilliant doom riff,  before it all ends, much like the tactics of Ted Bundy.

This isn't a concept album; there is a recurring theme with each song having its own concept, mainly about genuine historical figures and their tribulations. I was very pleased to see a mention of my little band included in the album's 'Thank You' notes, this goes to show how much of an impression we made on them. Truthfully, my first listen to Greenhorn left an everlasting impression, they truly are a force in the UK doom scene and this album only strengthens that belief. Give this album a listen; let them leave an impression on you too.

‘Like Rows of Crooked Teeth’ is available here

Band info : Facebook

Greenhorn - Doom Hawk - EP Review

Album Type: EP

Date Released: May 2014

Label: TBA Later

Doom Hawk - track listing

1. Horse Cock

2. Enemies

3. Driven Like A Cunt

4. Kingdom By The Sea

5. Binoculars

The Band Members

Sid

AJ

Vlad

Review:

Bournemouth's finest purveyors of Sludge/Doom Metal riffsters – GREENHORN are back with their stunning new EP – Doom Hawk. I featured these guys back in 2013 when I featured their debut EP – The Plague Doctor's Mask. Now Greenhorn are back with Doom Hawk.

A 20 minute EP spread along 5 tracks filled with filth ridden and anger filled Doom/Sludge Metal riffs waiting to fuck up your entire world. Though Greenhorn are different from your usual Doom/Sludge Metal bands. As they guys have a killer sense of humour to their music to show that they know how to have fun with their music as well. Though you may not think of this when listening to the brutal onslaught of riffs the band have in store for you.

Need more evidence. OK first track – Horse Cock – Yeah a Sludge/Doom Metal track called Horse Cock. But it's the music where it matters most and Greenhorn have delivered 3:36 minutes of heavy punishing riffs that pays homage to bands such as Grief, Iron Monkey and EyeHateGod though done in Greenhorn's immaculate Doom Metal style. The vocals are full of anger through out and it gives Greenhorn a violent edge compared against their British friends and rivals of the Doom Metal scene.

2^nd track – Enemies – carries on the devastating mixture of harsh vocals and riffs laid down previously though the band add elements of groove to this track and it makes it one of the EP's standout tracks. Play this one nice and loud as your speakers deserve it. Even playing this track at full blast and pissing off your neighbours deserve to hear the devastating riffs that Greenhorn have laid down here.

3^rd Track – Driven Like A Cunt – has a violent blues based riff that sounds something like Church Of Misery would be proud to call their own. Though it's the dangerous vocals that make Greenhorn sound like a bunch of violent cunts on the rampage. No offence guys. But this is brutal with a capital FUCKING BRUTAL. The heavy pounding bass is the main driving force here with the drums and guitars slowly hiding in the background.

Now we come to the EP's main even. The epic 4^th track – Kingdom By The Sea – which is worth the purchase of the EP alone. As it's a blistering 7:06 minute epic which shows what Greenhorn is all about. Slow-paced riffs which builds up the tension with each passing second with Greenhorn laying down some superb clean based vocals. This track is all about mood and the mood is DOOM!!! - Just embrace the carnage that Greenhorn are laying down for you here. It's an epic journey you won't easily forget.

The last track – Binoculars – only last for 6 seconds. What the fuck guys. I was just starting to get into the mood for some more heavy doom based riffs and you end this superb EP with a 6 second EP. Maybe a fuck you from the guys and their twisted sense of humour saying – Until Next Time Bitches!!!

Well Greenhorn have got my appetite well and truly destroyed. I want to hear more riffs you heartless bastards. Anyway joking aside. Doom Hawk is a brilliant EP. It really is. It proves that Greenhorn have the potential to be one of the UK's best and loudest Doom/Sludge Metal bands when they release their full length record.

Awesome. End Of.

Doom Hawk will be available to buy soon. Thanks to the guys for sending me a promo to review.

Check The Band From Links Below

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Written by Steve Howe