TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 for February 2017

Let it be known fellow Sludgelordians, “The Sour 16” returns.  The Sludgelord presents the very best riff based music to pour scorn on this desolate day and strike upon us the might of the riff, to inject our veins with sin and guide us on journey of subservice to doom, an act that goes against the very laws and teachings of populist culture, and for those that wish to come with us on our quest, kneel with me as we embrace the thunderous din that is, “The Sour 16”.

You know the drill by now, each month, you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, “The Sour 16” are the records that have been trending the most at Sludgelord Headquarters.

The results are compiled based on page views alone and calibrated into the list below.  All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in red)

16). Morta Skuld - "Wounds Deeper Than Time" (579)

15). Crystal Fairy - "Crystal Fairy" (629)

14). Woe - “Hope Attrition” (660)

13). Weltesser - "Crestfallen" (711)

12). Grey Widow - "II" (720)

11). Dread Sovereign - "For Doom The Bell Tolls" (739)

10). Brutus - "Burst" (820)

9). Wiegedood - “De Doden Hebben Het Goed II” (924)

8). Psychedelic Witchcraft – “Magick Rites and Spells" (979)

  

7). Darkest Hour - “Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora” (1011)

6). Death Alley - "Live At Roadburn" (1023)

5). Cult of Occult / Grim Van Doom - "Split" (1096)

4). Sleep - "The Clarity" (EP) (1437)

3). DOOL - "Here Now, There Then" (1439)

2). Unearthly Trance - "Stalking the Ghost" (1526)

1). Widows - "Oh Deer God" (1705)

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful. February’s  “Sour 16” features reviews by:  Victor Van Ommen, Ben Fitts, Theron Moore, Brandon Green, Charlie Butler, Chris Bull, Jake Wallace, Conor O’Dea & Grim Trashcan

ALBUM REVIEW: Grey Widow - "II"

By: Grim Trashcan

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 31/03/2017

Label: Independent

This is blackened crust, doomed and stoned at its purest, with angst and despair set to annihilate. Canyon-wide grooves completely assault your senses revealing every trick these sadistic sonic sorcerers have under their fetid robes. This album demands your full fucking sonic attention.

“II” track listing:

1). XI

2). XII

3). XIII

4). XIV

The Review:

Having been completely unfamiliar with this outfit from the UK, I found myself intrinsically digging through any and all online presence of Grey Widow.  Everything I found was like, well- what you might expect from a band who's facebook cover photo contains two key power words: "Annihilation//Amplification". Scrolling down the page, the band took a moment to set the record straight for any followers who may have felt they disappeared like fog mist or perhaps had fallen ill from a venomous sting. 

"After a year of inactivity, depression, solace and apathy, we have risen from the depths of our own human faeces and moulded a sound so heavy and thick it would flatten our meaningless existence on this cursed planet." - Excerpt issued by GW on 2/1/17. 

Four tracks each titled with a Numeral and in this case we find them at "XI". 

"Eleven is one louder" rang through my psyche as I pressed play  and was greeted with the tonal equivalent of lingering bong smoke covering a valley of moonlit shadows until meteoric shards of obsidian and granite pummel to the surface in rhythmic fashion to simultaneously clear away and form new plumes of presence. Everything here sits to set up and serve the song. There is a bright edge to every murky movement. This meticulous building takes place for near 4 minutes until the full force of Grey Widow reveals its callousness and true size. The engineered, meticulous and well-placed facets of this opening track hold steadfast to prove that the production value that Chris Fielding at Skyhammer Studios brings to the table is a thing of mythic proportions. He could probably make squirrels sound like elephants. The bass tone alone stands right along probably one of the deepest, thundering bass kicks ever recorded. Rhythmically, this band completely assaults you with flippant disregard at trying to ease you into a hypnotic state. They demand your full fucking sonic attention. Imagine getting dragged behind some kind of necromanced tank over a field of ash and bones. Pissed off and plodding. 

Having picked my head up off my table, "XII" takes off almost exactly where "XI" left you. Mid-paced and cruising along for a bit and then dropping down to pound you into submission. When the first verse takes form and the riff presents its fury, you pick up an almost Brainoil kind of vibe, but not completely. The vocals seem sort of stepped back from the overall mix and then the track kinda eases off completely almost to a relaxing point. Like a dragon rising above the clouds to take a break from toasting villagers in fiery breaths of death - this is a brief reprieve until its back down to crushing altitude. No, that's not a typo - fucking crushing altitude.  Clocking in at just shy of 8:30 and the second shortest track of the album, when it ends I actually wanted it to continue for twice as long. 

I think it was a deliberate choice because the organic extension that the next track "XIII" presents is literally the high water mark for this entire affair. Initially a faster paced intro followed by the setting of a canyon-wide groove where everything comes together to basically reveal every trick these sadistic sonic sorcerers have under their fetid robes. This is blackened crust doomed and stoned at its purest. Angst and despair set to annihilate. Layers of complexity which step forward and disappear so naturally it's downright unsettling. There's a presence here that makes me feel like this song has always existed and these Grey Widow blokes are the lucky ones to have communed with its presence and brought it to us in spectacular fashion. I must have re-listened to this particular track at least four or five times before writing this nonsense. 

The bummer side of doing this particular review was the logistical side of things. I received four ultra-top secret locked down Soundcloud links that I had to cue individually rather than just hit play from start to finish. That's the experience I feel this four song affair deserves. The final number finds us at "XIV" and that's where Grey Widow is most accessible sounding. Whatever that means. The shortest song, clocking it at a mere 7:20ish it's got a memorable hook, extended hypnotic riff structure and a slightly more percussive feel at points. By the way, the drums are mixed for lack of a better term "perfectly" for the entirety of this record. They have a depth and warmth that is pretty much a signature statement. The cymbals sound like living breathing entities rather than obnoxious brash significance constituting rhythmic flair and flash. There's deep murky tones and roomy, big ass bass on the stringed side of things but the drumming is in a spectrum of its own design.

This is a solid release and I'm stoked to have the opportunity to listen to it. Fingers crossed and I'll have a physical copy of it on my most preferred format: a tried and true slab of wax. Hat's off to the Grey Widow gang...you done turned this doom aficionado into an instant fan based off four behemoth sized songs.

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Grey Widow/Sons of Tonatiuh - “Grey Widow / Sons of Tonatiuh' Spilt (Review)

 By: Eric Crowe

Album Type: CD / Tape

Date Released: 8/09/2015 

Label: Red Valley

…damn when the guitars kick in! Your gut drops at the sheer thickness and weight of the disgust. Powerful and an intense drive that makes you want wreck everything around you and Overall this is a great pairing of bands, both bringing something different to the table, but yet both still so violently pleasing

“Grey Widow / Sons of Tonatiuh” CD//CS tracklisting:

1. Grey Widow “X”

2. Grey Widow “Obey” (Leechmilk cover)

3. Sons of Tonatiuh “Skull File”

4. Sons of Tonatiuh “Wounded” (Cavity cover)

5. Sons of Tonatiuh “Sun Goes Down” (Killing Joke cover)

6. Sons of Tonatiuh  “The Oracle”

The Review:

This split begins with Grey Widow’s track “X” with slow, thick plodding drums for a solid minute before the wash of amp worship and feedback fades in, very reminiscent of the uneasy nature of a Corrupted album. Samples fade into the mix, adding additional layers to the building tension. But damn when the guitars kick in! Your gut drops at the sheer thickness and weight of the disgust. Aching vocals bleed through with such scorn and distaste for everything. It’s about the 5:30 mark when they shift gears from the sludgy tar pit to a crustier, angst driven kick in the teeth. This drive is perfect and just when you really start digging on it really good, it bottoms back out to the thick ass molasses / amp choking riff to finish out the track.

Next up is my favorite track of the split, Grey Widow do a mean as fuck cover of Leechmilk’s “Obey” The tones are so thick and breathe new life into an already timeless song. I can’t help but get into this track every time I hear it! Grey Widow is an amazing band and look forward to seeing what else this crushing band has to offer in the future!

Sons of Tonatiuh kick off their portion of the split with “Skull File” a slow build introduction that from off the bat is teeth clenching hatred. The duel vocals evoke sheer anger and maximum hostility, which match perfectly to the tone and style of SoTs music. “Wounded” is next and has a serious crusty d-beat feel to it. Powerful and an intense drive that makes you want wreck everything around you, especially with Dan’s vocals leading the charge; fiery and demanding.

This track is very reminiscent of the old Leechmilk days.

“Sun Goes Down” keeps the drive going with this Killing Joke cover. Executed with excellence with heavy crunch and a steady chug that’s like “Fuck yeah!” Closing out SoTs side of the split is “The Oracle” a heavy hitting track that slows it back down to a crawl through a dreary sludge romp. Everything about this band clicks for me, and I’m glad to see that maybe all the pieces have fallen into place for Sons of Tonatiuh. Guitar and bass tones compliment each other perfectly and drumming with the right amount of knowing when to be in the pocket and to come forward and kick it up a bit!

Overall this is a great pairing of bands, both bringing something different to the table, but yet both still so violently pleasing. Be on the look out for this to drop in early September!

This is split is available here

RIYL: Fistula, Leechmilk, Dopefight, Killing Joke, Cavity, Buzz*oven

Band info: Grey Widow Facebook | Grey Widow Bandcamp  Sons of Tonatiuh Facebook

The Sludgelord News: Headliners Announced for Manchester Doom, Sludge & Stoner All-Dayer

NOIZ Promotions is hosting a day of BIG RIFFS AND HEAVY TONES at the Star & Garter, Manchester, on Saturday 17 October. Event here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1479544972270465/

The NOIZ All-Dayer will be headlined by enchanting, classic doomers Alunah, which forms the Manchester date of their Octdoom Tour.

The lineup is now almost full with Ten Foot Wizard, Chubby Thunderous Bad Kush Masters, Bastard of the Skies, Conjurer, Kurokuma, Monolith Cult, Grey Widow, Gévaudan and Under joining Alunah.

NOIZ Promotions commented: “Over the last few years, the city of Manchester has become one of the most respected and active in the UK riff scene and has drawn interest and fans to here, resulting in an expanding, yet tight-knit scene. I'm really excited to have such a great lineup – so, BIG RIFFS AND HEAVY TONES will be the order of the day.”

The event will also feature side attractions and an aftershow, details of which are all yet to be announced, together with the final wave of band announcements in the coming weeks.



Grey Widow - I - Album Review

Album Type:Album

Date Released: 14 Jan 2014

Label: Self Released on BandCamp

I - track listing:

I 05:24

II 07:40

III 05:56

IV 07:17

V 05:05

VI 09:18

VII 06:49

VIII 09:12

The Band Members

Formed from members of Dopefight, Parole, Thread, The Ergon Carousel.

Review:

Grey Widow call their music - nihilistic sludge blackened noize – and aint that the fucking truth as their début album – I – is one lean mean and angry bastard from start to finish.

If you're a fan of THOU then you need to check out Grey Widow as they play a similar style of music. Grey Widow have enough power to knock the fillings from your teeth. This is brutal sludge/doom metal music through out. It may not be re-inventing the wheel but you can't deny the powerful riffs that Grey Widow have at their disposal.

The tracks are simply titled, mainly after the order they play in. And with each passing moment, song and riff – Grey Widow become heavier and even more disturbed as time goes by. Don't go listening to this album if you're expecting some uplifting riffs as there is none. Grey Widow is all about torture, suffering and misery. Don't say I didn't warn you!!!

Though Grey Widow have written some excellent face-shredding riffs for you to slowly torture yourself with. Especially on tracks such as I, II and III – which sets up the albums scene brilliantly. The album is on for 55 mins and if you have the stomach for this style of music then you're in for one hell of a ride. Riffs are played like Grey Widow's lives depended on it.

You can feel the pain and torture that Grey Widow have put themselves through while recording this album. You can detect the red mist of blood that the band spilled while laying down the riffs as it can be a painful experience to listen to at times.

Grey Widow have written some epic tracks that you will take time to recover from. Check out tracks – IV, VI and VIII – as they convey the pain and torture of the nightmarish world that Grey Widow live in. This is music for people who like their Doom/Sludge Metal music – loud, violent and nasty.

This album should come with a government health warning as it will inflict misery upon some listeners. It's a good thing that I love this type of music as I can see how truly talented Grey Widow actually are.

If you want torturous riffs that will take over your soul and corrupt your very being then Grey Widow is the band for you. This is a disgusting filth ridden nightmare come to life. And I loved every fucked-up second of it.

Thanks to Grey Widow for fucking up my world for a few days. I is now available to buy from BandCamp now.

Check The Band From Links Below

Facebook

BandCamp

Written by Steve Howe