Organ - 'Tetro' EP (Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 09/09/2015

Label:  Independent

People have always said that on a map of the world, Italy resembles a boot, well; it would seem that lately that boot is stomping holes in motherfuckers,  because Organ’s music  translates crushing doom in the vein of Usnea, a sound reminiscent of French sludge/hardcore band Drawers and the swagger and snarl of early Electric Wizard. 

‘Tetro’ DD track listing:

1). Slave Ship

2). Witch House

3). Kholat Syakhi

4). Hal

5). Enuma Anu Enlil

Organ is:

Alessandro Del Pellegrin | bass

Guilio Fabbro | Drums

Luca Rizzardi | Guitars, vocals

Alessandro Brun | Guitars, vocals

The Review:

A rather pleasantly surprising release from Belluno, Italy's Organ. Not stoner, not sludge, not doom but a band forged in the furnace where all three genre's paths collide.

'Slave Ships' kick things off with some crushing doom in the vein of Usnea. The guitars clang and ring with a sound reminiscent of French sludge/hardcore band Drawers. They play the same riff virtually all the way through this 9 minutes opener but due to the swirling nature of the layers of reverbed guitar, it manages not to become repetitive. Second track 'Witch House' has the swagger and snarl of early Electric Wizard without it sounding like a blatant rip off. 'Kholat Syakhl' is a great song, the colossal riff and pounding drums make it sound like a giant ogre, trampling forests and crushing villages. 'Hal' is a killer atmospheric track that conjures images of ritual sacrifices. The drummer absolutely nails it keeping it minimalist. 'Enuma Anu Enlil' has got the 'Dopethrone' vibe down to a T, churning out the kind of riffs that Jus Oborn and Co should be doing right now. A nice clean section livens it up before some more punishing doom with added dark psychedelics flowing through. Nicely done!

Italy has been responsible for some brilliant heavy music as of late. Bands the likes of Grime and Ufommamut have been making waves (the latter for a good few years) and labels such as Argonauta are keeping the scene alive by investing their time and money into putting out awesome releases. People have always said that on a map of the world, Italy resembles a boot, well; it would seem that lately that boot is stomping holes in motherfuckers.

‘Tetro’ is available here

FFO: Usnea, Drawers, Electric Wizard

Band info: Bandcamp | facebook

Grime - 'Circle of Molesters' (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 10/09/2015

Label: Argento Records

Fans of filthy sludge take note; this is an album you need to hear this year. It's a definite improvement on previous album 'Deteriorate' as the band have followed the left hand path towards the dark side.

‘Circle of Molesters’ DD/LP track listing:

1. Intro (Obscuration)
2. Get Immortal
3. Verge Of Wrath
4. Decay In Hades
5. Sulphorous Veins
6. Accelerating Transition
7. Salvation Come From Below
8. Orgiastic Rite

Grime is:

Chris | drums
Marco | vocals, guitar
Paolo | bass guitar
Ans | guitar

The Review:

Italian purveyors of filth Grime return with 'Circle of Molesters', not sure about the title but one thing I am dead certain about is the band's ability to write a heavy tune!

Intro track 'Into Obscuration' lays down the monolithic cuts before the gnarly fury of 'Get Immortal' with its Eyehategod swagger and GG Allin entry level dirt. It's obvious that the band want the stringed instruments to be the main focus as the vocals are buried in the mix; it does work but just a fraction louder would have been preferable. The end of 'Verge Of Wrath' has some great double kicking going on, not death metal double kick, think more along the lines of Lord Mantis and Indian. 'Decay In Hades' has some great riffs to nod your head to and is possibly the most life affirming song on the album. Another Indian reference follows with 'Sulphurous Veins', waves of misanthropy flood your eardrums before the pitter patter drums and chugging riffs change the course. 'Accelerating Transition' is atypical sludge and unfortunately does not stand out. The bass sound on the intro to 'Salvation Come From Below' is horrible in the best way possible; I must find out what pedals he uses...The song itself switches rhythms a few times and has some good drum fills. 'Orgiastic Rites' is the final song and possibly the standout on this album, rhythmically staying away from the standard slow 4/4 for the most part in favour of some riff and pause action. Everything slows right down and the final chords linger for long enough to build up some disturbing feedback until the bitter end.

It's a shame that the vocals are so low in the mix as vocalist/guitarist Marco has some excellent blood curdling screams and really could have taken this album to the hypothetical 'next level'. Fans of filthy sludge take note; this is an album you need to hear this year. It's a definite improvement on previous album 'Deteriorate' as the band have followed the left hand path towards the dark side.

‘Circle of Molesters’ is available here

FFO: Eyehategod, Cult of Occult, Methdrinker, Love Sex Machine

Band info: Facebook | Bandcamp | twitter