Rorcal - "Creon" (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull


Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 25/03/2016
Label: Halo of Flies |
Unquiet Records | Lost Pilgrim Records |
Bleak Recordings | Division Records

'Πολυνείκης' leads the way with its jagged, maelstrom of a riff, 'Ἀντιγόνη' washes over you with its 'Criminally Insane' like drum intro. Blast beats are plentiful as the hellfire riffs spew lava in every direction. The intro of 'Αἵμων' draws you in with its brooding, darkness before it rages violently into oblivion with nods to the older gods and 'Εὐρυδίκη' phlegmatic in its delivery, is a chunk of pure bludgeoning darkness.  This record is that good, I'm willing to go out on a limb and call it an album of the year contender. Much like the Hivelords last year; Rorcal have pushed their own envelope further and further into the realms of possibility and although they may dwell in darkness, the future is bright.

“Creon” CD//DD//LP track  listing:

1). 'Πολυνείκης'

2). 'Ἀντιγόνη'

3). 'Αἵμων'

4). 'Εὐρυδίκη'

The Review:

'Creon' is the newest album from Swiss post black/sludge outfit Rorcal and is indicative of the violent, evil forces of Mother Nature. Each element combines to form a torrent of acrid, yet melodic sound.

'Πολυνείκης' leads the way with its jagged, maelstrom of a riff. It slowly builds through a resplendent cacophony, complete with stabbing cymbals and hypnotic guitar layers into Altar Of Plagues like pummelling. The barrage continues with plenty of subtle nuances but without rest. You're already consumed by the tidal pull and gasping for air by the time 'Ἀντιγόνη' washes over you with its 'Criminally Insane' like drum intro. This time, the build up is short; Yonni's vocals churn in the blackened waves. Some Norwegian Second Wave riffs bare their teeth for a few moments among the intelligent song crafting. The song dissipates into some melancholic shredding, destroying its structure before rebuilding into a furious storm.

The intro of 'Αἵμων' draws you in with its brooding, darkness before it rages violently into oblivion with nods to the older gods. The intro riff is once again the jumping off point for the song as it takes a slightly more frantic turn. Blast beats are plentiful as the hellfire riffs spew lava in every direction and nearing the song's end, the notes are left to cling to the smog filled air. 'Εὐρυδίκη' phlegmatic in its delivery, is a chunk of pure bludgeoning darkness. Something inherently nefarious lurks beneath the intricate melodies and machine gun drumming, almost as if something has forced their hands. By the time the track's twelve plus minutes have elapsed, you will feel like Pliny the younger, surveying the city of Pompeii after Mount Vesuvius erupted.

This record is that good, I'm willing to go out on a limb and call it an album of the year contender. Much like the Hivelords last year; Rorcal have pushed their own envelope further and further into the realms of possibility and although they may dwell in darkness, the future is bright.

“Creon” is available here

Band info: facebook

The Sludgelord 'Sour 16' For August 2015

By: Aaron Pickford

As the haze of sunshine finally appears to be descending for the last time and with it the end of summer, let us not despair and instead rejoice as we usher in another feast of music for your listening pleasure, a veritable smorgasbord of riffs, this can only mean one thing? The Sludgelord’s ‘Sour 16’.  Welcome, all lovers of the riff, you know the deal by now, however for those of you that do not, let us recap.  Each month, you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal, but predominately the best the doom, sludge, stoner-psychedelic genres have to offer.  It is not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music, but simply, the ‘Sour 16’ are the records you guys (readers) have been most interested in over the last month and checking out on this page.

So here is the The Sludgelord’s ‘Sour 16’ for August 2015, the 16 records you’re most looking forward too or are currently checking out.  Dig in, spread the word and perhaps revisit some records you may have overlooked.  The results are compiled based on page views alone and calibrated into the list below. So without further ado, enjoy the ‘Sour 16’. Roll up, kick back, chug a beer and Hail the riff! All review/band links can be accessed by clicking on the artwork. (Total views at the time of publication are highlighted in red)

16). Eschaton – ‘Sentinel Apocalypse’ (312)

For anyone with an interest in death metal from Revocation to Morbid Angel to Immolation to Death, then this album should definitely be checked out. I enjoyed it hugely and recommend it highly.

15). Nightfell – ‘Darkness Evermore’ (320)

“Rebirth” sees the band playing with different melodic black metal elements… which make for a wonderful musical counterweight to the resonant doom n’ death rumbling of the album’s general comfort zone.

14). Fight Amp – ‘Constantly Off’ (348)

‘In short, I’ve been missing out. I’m really happy to have had a reason to sit down with a band I already thought I knew and find out there’s still so much more to them. I can only highly recommend ‘Constantly Off’, and after this I’m off to check out all the stuff I’ve missed.’

13). Lucifer ‘Lucifer I’ (352)

‘All in all, “Lucifer I” is a solid release, song-per-song. It’s sure to be a hit for all the ‘70s obsessive’s and the proto-metallers, but it also has moments that are evil enough and dark enough to satisfy those who need a little more intensity beyond the black rainbow.’

12). = Myrkur  - ‘M’ & Gnaw Their Tongues – ‘Abyss of Longing Throats’ (354)

At this juncture, Myrkur has proven to be capable of material that is truly special, with the sort of vivid musical imagination welcome in any genre, metal being no exception. What’s most exciting is what an even deeper exploration of this kind of folkish black metal, rich with creativity might yield a couple of years from now.

‘Gnaw Their Tongues has opened up a portal into hell and is dragging you with him. Fear the worst. Expect to suffer. If you make it out alive, expect some severe emotional trauma.’

10). Six Feet Under – ‘Crypt of the Devil’ (357)

‘This is as pure a strain of death metal as you are ever likely to find: crushing, sawing guitar riots? Check.  Throat-expanding guttural vocals?  Check.  Lurid, obscene song titles, including ‘Broken Bottle Rape’ and ‘Compulsion to Brutalize’?  Check mate.  If it’s classic death metal grooves you’re after, look no further.’

09). Limb – ‘Terminal’ (371)

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

08). Locrian – ‘Infinite Dissolution’ (400)

‘Standout track ‘An Index of Air’ leans into emptiness with a rattling drone, an almost imperceptibly off-time drum pulsing the intro before expanding out into tidal-waves of anguished convulsions blended with blissed out droning black that Deafheaven would burn gasoline-soaked churches to attain.’

07). Carousel – ‘2113’ (420)

‘2113’ is a blur of dynamic, late night booze fuelled journeys filled with timeless hooks and immensely powerful solos. A band that knows how to capture your attention; they filter the music of their childhood heroes add a contemporary twist and their unique flair and create magic. They build on their concrete foundation of strong vocals and catchy choruses, wrap up some tight backing and present a very pleasing album complete with a jazzy little bow.

06) Hivelords – ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’ (424)

'Cavern Apothecary' was a glimpse into the potential this band had at that point. On ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’, they've smashed through the glass ceiling and surpassed the promise they showed. The fact that they're signed to Anthropic Records is both a blessing and a curse; it makes those who know about the band seem like part of a secret club and preserves their cult status. However, had this been released on a label like Relapse, Profound Lore or Candlelight, everyone would be losing their shit and proclaiming this as the best album they've heard this year. It’s simply stunning.’

05). DoctoR DooM – ‘The Seed We Have Sown’ (534)

‘It's a monstrous sound, reminding me of a club scene in many a Bond film, but replace lounge piano or jazz with a much more upbeat rock band. This is Everyman Rock. And they love to stay around with their songs, so look forward to an album full of 4+ minute slabs that will take you along sonic highways of old.’

04). Ahab – ‘The Boat of Glen Carrig’ (551)

‘It's hard to sum the record up, such is the scope and depth on offer within the record, but suffice it to say this: it will feature in year end lists, it will grow on you and is definitely one of the more unusual and ambitious releases of the year. This is fine stuff, but then again coming from Napalm Records, does anyone expect anything less?! Dark, atmospheric and powerful. A fantastic record.’

03). Pentagram - ‘Curious Volume’ (710)

Overall, for my money, Curious Volume is a better album than Last Rites- more focused, more inspired and it crackles with life, it really does. It is the best album from Pentagram in a long while and for that we should all rejoice. Legendary for a reason!

02). The Sword – ‘High Country’ (1377)

The length of the album, at 15 tracks, does make getting acquainted with this record a slow process, but in the end you’ll discover there aren’t any dips in form. ‘High Country’ is rich in consistency and across its span, Cronise, Shutt and co. dispel any fears you may have about this release all the while oozing a slick professionalism. They’ve been at this song writing malarkey for a while now, they’re hardened pros and this stands testament to their brilliant legacy.’

01). Ghost – ‘Meliora’ (5382)

‘Today, Ghost still manage to shock and surprise us in a society where we’ve seen and heard it all before. People are fascinated, fixated even with finding out their true identities. Their music is more powerful than it ever has been too. ‘Meloria’ is a spellbinding listen and one which will see them elevated to greater plains of existence. It affects you, leaves you shaken. They can make you laugh or cry without so much of a flick of the wrist and, although the music we love is basking in something of a purple period right now, a band as potent as this is still a rarity.’

This list features reviews by, Chris Bull, Philip Weller, Kat Hilton, Hunter Young, Richard Maw, James Harris, Dominic Walsh, Chris Markwell, Daniel Jackson, Erik Sugg & Greg Sheriff

Hivelords: An Interview with Extreme Metals Best Kept Secret

By: Chris Bull

'Cavern Apothecary' was a glimpse into the potential this band had at that point. On ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’, they've smashed through the glass ceiling and surpassed the promise they showed. The fact that they're signed to Anthropic Records is both a blessing and a curse; it makes those who know about the band seem like part of a secret club and preserves their cult status. However, had this been released on a label like Relapse, Profound Lore or Candlelight, everyone would be losing their shit and proclaiming this as the best album they've heard this year. It’s simply stunning.’

Philadelphia's Hivelords are one of extreme metal's best kept secrets. Their second full length, the gloriously atmospheric 'Tapered Limbs Of A Human Star' was released this month and reviewed by yours truly. Definitely one of the highlights of this year! Having recently completed a  month long tour of the US, I decided to interrogate them.

SL) First of all, it's a pleasure to have you take time out of your schedule to answer these questions. I'm a big fan of yours so this is a big deal on a personal level.  Tell us a little about yourselves so that those unfamiliar with your work can get acquainted.

Hivelords) We play Dark Metal that draws on our favourite sub genres of metal.  We accentuate the psychedelic elements of our music in ways that we feel are tasteful and appropriate to our sonic aspirations.  We don't have many "rules" about what we should and shouldn't be doing.  We like to explore.

SL)  That’s cool, now made the decision to replace one guitarist with 2 and it seems to have paid off.   Was it planned that way to expand on the previous album's sound?

Hivelords) Thanks.  We decided to make the move to 2 guitars in 2013, but adding Lydia to our line-up and having Will move to drums has really opened up a lot of doors for us.  The possibilities are pretty limitless now, for which we are very grateful.  We can write as eccentrically as we want to and all of us are more than capable of executing the ideas at hand.  It's really a pleasure being in a band with such talented players who are down as fuck to make interesting music and go on tour.

SL)  Your latest album 'Tapered Limbs Of A Human Star' strayed slightly from the path tread on ‘Cavern Apothecary’. Although the slow parts remain in part, it veered off into black metal territory. Was this a conscious decision or did it occur naturally?  Explain your creative process, is there a chief songwriter or is it a 'jam out ideas' kind of thing?

Hivelords) The tracks on "Tapered Limbs..." Were composed by 3 different writers.  Usually a skeleton of ideas is presented to the group and we edit it together in sectional rehearsals and a computer-based demoing of material.  Jamming is fun, but we are not a jammy band.  Our song structures are very deliberate, and usually the melodic lines benefit from the happy accidents of rehearsing new ideas.  It's really about the riffs you DON'T write.

Club 66, Ashland, Oregon (c) Al Case

SL) The use of Atmosphere on 'Tapered Limbs...' is incredible. How did you create this and are you able to recreate this in a live setting?

Hivelords) Thank you.  We'd like to think that our live atmosphere tends to replicate that of the album, because there is no studio trickery on the record.  The record is just us playing the songs to a click.  All of the effects pedals we used are incorporated into the live show.

SL) Personally, 'Tapered Limbs...' feels like a descent into hell, almost like an audio version of Dante's journey into the inferno in the Divine Comedy, are there any parallels that can be drawn?

Hivelords) It is an interpretation we take, with the utmost degree of humility, as an extremely high complement. We expect parallels to be drawn by listeners not merely between our compositions and classic and contemporary texts, but between the songs and the beholder's own personal experiences. There's a smattering of everything in there. A lot of the lyrical and tone inspiration was drawn from myriad religions, belief systems, literary and visual artworks of our favourite writers and artists, all fusing subliminally and intentionally with personal interpretations of them. As a result, the mythos behind the music is manifested as a generalizable and relatable entity, all imagined, to represent something real. Which is pain. Pain through knowledge. Pain through love. Pain through sorrow. Pain through fleeting beauty. Nothing lasts except the struggle of life and humanity's ill-fated quests for meaning. This is all a dream, and we're living it.

SL)  Tell us about some of your influences during the writing/recording process.

Hivelords) Classical guitar is my biggest influence.  I think we are coming to realize that non-traditional melodies are our forte, and we’re excited to keep exploring this path.

SL) Your record label Anthropic Records seems like a great label to work with, who are some of the bands on their roster that need to be heard?

Hivelords) We love working with Anthropic and are ecstatic about the relationship we have.  Anthropic will be releasing a split featuring two philly bands, black metal legends Krieg and cinematic doom outfit Ominous Black later this year.  Homies Die Choking, Sadgiqacea, Occult 45, Godstopper, and many others have collaborated with Anthropic in the past.  We're creating our own world together and it feels awesome.

SL) You recently compeled on a lengthy tour, any road stories you'd care to share?

Hivelords) An individual in Fargo ND told us that it was the country's drunkest city, and that he was a testament to that.  Wal-Mart lets you return literally anything.  Designated Driver for when we leave a show is called Designated Dingus and has to wear the dingus hat and do the dingus song and dance before taking us to our domicile for the evening.  Touring is hard work, but it's also an unspoken contest to see who can laugh the hardest, and for that we are grateful.

SL) Do you have any pre gig rituals?

Hivelords) Each performance brings a new and unique kind of excitement.  The natural adrenaline supplied by the pre-show rituals of loading in, and talking about the events of the past 24 hours puts us all on the same page before show time.  We all have different routines of preparing to play, and we celebrate that.

Club 66, Ashland, Oregon (c) Al Case

SL) For the gear heads, could you give us a rig run down?

Hivelords) Our gear is largely irrelevant.  We all have pedals.  We tend to not treat effects as a crutch, but rather an accent, adding to our atmosphere.

SL) Let's say you find a book in a random location, you begin to read it and realise it's a book about your life. You get to the point where you are now, do you continue to read?

Hivelords) I think I'd be tempted to continue reading, yes.  That would be pretty trippy.  It could be like Back to the Future 2 when Biff finds the almanac.  Would knowing the future force one to change course?  What if it's the perfect future but you fuck it up because you know what happens?  It’s so abstract that it's difficult to say.  Maybe it's better not to know.

SL).  Hopefully 2015 will see you reach new heights, any plans for the remainder of the year and for 2016?

Hivelords) We’ve just completed a month-long tour of the US.  Playing a few regional festivals in the fall - Shadow Woods Fest, Detest Fest, and Grendel Fest.  

SL) Any final thoughts you'd like to share?

Hivelords) Thank you to everyone who supports us and makes it possible for us to do what were doing.  Writing, recording, and touring are privileges and we don't take them for granted. We all modify our lifestyles to make this possible and we are grateful for the individuals out there believing in us and rooting for us.  Cheers!

You can read our view of Hivelords latest record here

Band info: Facebook| Instagram | Bandcamp

Hivelords - ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’ (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 04/08/2015

Label: Anthropic Records

'Cavern Apothecary' was a glimpse into the potential this band had at that point. On ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’, they've smashed through the glass ceiling and surpassed the promise they showed. The fact that they're signed to Anthropic Records is both a blessing and a curse; it makes those who know about the band seem like part of a secret club and preserves their cult status. However, had this been released on a label like Relapse, Profound Lore or Candlelight, everyone would be losing their shit and proclaiming this as the best album they've heard this year. It’s simply stunning.’

‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’ CD//DD//LP track listing

1). Soothsayer Worm

2). Vessel

3). Begotten Grimoire

4). I Climbed the Highest Dakma to Find it

Hivelords is

Will Mellor | Drums

Tyler Butler| Bass

Kevin North | Vocals
Lydia Giordano | Guitar
Evan Void | Guitar

The Review:

Hivelords are one of those bands that tick all the right boxes for me personally. Atmosphere - check. Interesting riffs - check. Occasional blast beats - check. Tortured vocals - check. Filth - check. Ability to put together a good song - check. The atmosphere has always been a key point to their sound, right back to their 2011 release 'The Cellar Scrolls' and most recently with 2013's 'Cavern Apothecary' (which was one of my favourite releases of that year), they've pushed boundaries and tread paths many bands are too scared to tread.

'Soothsayer Worm' begins like a slow descent into the maelstrom, the atmosphere of impending doom, the fear of the unknown. We get some blast beats and a stylistically black metal song construction, guitarist Evan Void (also of Tombs) flexes his considerable musical muscle, undoubtedly, playing in a band with Mike Hill has rubbed off! After 10 minutes and several tempo changes, the sense of dread intensifies with the sludgy tones of second song 'Vessel' and the descent continues. The fires of hell are close, the hands and arms of several screaming lost souls are reaching out to pull you in. Vocalist Kevin North wails and snarls like a mad man over the anomalous riffs churned out by Void and Lydia Giordano. Around the 6.30 mark, everything slows to a writhing crescendo; an ominous harsh noise pierces through the mix and scrapes at your eardrums as the song fades out at 9 minutes.

'Begotten Grimoire' could have been recorded in Norway in the 90's were the production not of superior quality! Towards the end of the song the blasts punctuate through the almost heroic riffing. Your journey through Hell has been painful but you now know what needs to be done to escape. And so to the album's terminal conclusion, the 12 minute 'I Climbed The Highest Dakhma to Find It'. For the most part, it's black metal but there's definitely some sludge and doom in there. The first 7 minutes is your battle with the demons that surround you, the remaining 5 is your ascent through the small opening in the cave. It's dark, you're tired and wounded but you must continue to climb, you must escape. The distorted, disjointed vocals fade away through the trad doom riffs and lumbering drums. Everything rings out as you realise you've reached the mountain's pinnacle. You survey the apocalyptic wasteland below and realise the hell you've just experienced is no worse than what awaits you in the real world.

'Cavern Apothecary' was a glimpse into the potential this band had at that point. On ‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’, they've smashed through the glass ceiling and surpassed the promise they showed. The fact that they're signed to Anthropic Records is both a blessing and a curse; it makes those who know about the band seem like part of a secret club and preserves their cult status. However, had this been released on a label like Relapse, Profound Lore or Candlelight, everyone would be losing their shit and proclaiming this as the best album they've heard this year. It’s simply stunning.

‘Tapered Limbs of a Human Star’ is available here

Band info: Facebook| Instagram | Bandcamp

NORTHERN AMERICA TOUR

8/10 - APPLETON, WI
8/11 - FARGO, ND
8/12 - BILLINGS, MT
8/13 - BOZEMAN, MT
8/14 - MISSOULA, MT
8/15 - SPOKANE, WA
8/16 - SEATTLE, WA
8/17 - TACOMA, WA
8/18 - PORTLAND, OR
8/19 - ASHLAND, OR
8/20 - OAKLAND, CA
8/21 - PROVO, UT
8/22 - LARAMIE, WY
8/23 - COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
8/24 - DENVER, CO
8/25 - WICHITA, KS
8/26 - KANSAS CITY, MO
8/27 - LEXINGTON, KY
8/28 - CHARLESTON WV
8/29 - PITTSBURGH, PA
9/5 - PHILADELPHIA, PA
9-25-SHADOW WOODS METAL FEST

Interview with HIVELORDS

Today Aaron is talking to HIVELORDS – The Self Proclaimed - Black Smoke Acid Nightmare – Drone/Doom/Sludge Metallers who we are big fans of at the blog. Their style of heavy riffs and bleak vocals has won them a loyal following within the Sludge metal scene.

Their 2013 album - Cavern Apothecary – was a firm favourite of ours at Sludgelord HQ. Aaron caught up with Will (Guitarist) from the band recently and this is what went down....

Welcome to the Sludgelord, pleased to talk to you guys and welcome.Thanks for having us your Royal Blognesses.

(SL) Who are you; state your name (s) and purpose?

Will: My name is Will and I play guitar in HIVELORDS. My purpose is to answer these questions and hopefully entertain you. Our band’s purpose is to make the best music we are capable of and share it with as many people as possible.

(SL) Summarise your musical journey (s) this point?

We formed, put out a demo (Cellar Scrolls), a 7 inch (Grand Cromlech), a full length (Cavern Apothecary), have been on several Anthrosphere compilations (Anthropic Records) and are now putting out a split cassette. We've gone on several lengthy full US tours, several short ones, and are about to embark on another long Summer tour.

(SL) What can fans look forward to from you in 2014? How is your schedule shaping up?

Will: Major fucking breakthroughs are happening this year. Firstly, Evan Void from Sadgiqacea has joined the band on lead guitar, instantly catapulting us up to the level of "mostly legitimate band." From June 20th to July 30th we will be touring with our brother-band Sadgiqacea. We have a self-released and recorded a split cassette with Ardent Vein (Washington, drone) that we will be selling on tour.

Ardent Vein is also filling in and performing vocal duties for HIVELORDS during this tour. We are beyond excited to work with Ajax. We met him in Seattle and he scared the shit out of us with his performance. Truly menacing; he will fit right in with our sound. After tour, we will finish tightening up the music for our next full length which will be recorded this Fall.

SL) What springs to mind when you think about the completion of your new/current record?

Will: Everything we have released is, clearly, tired old bullshit. Everything we have yet to release is, obviously, ground-breaking musical genius. Honestly though, the cassette sounds killer; our new tunes are striding ahead musically. We are very much looking forward to taking our time when recording the next full length. Everything we have done up until this point has been rather rushed.

(SL) Who handles song writing duties?

Will: I bring riffs and ideas to the band, sometimes more or less formed, and then they change, get added to and subtracted from, and become songs.  Our vocalist has also started to write music that, again, gets shaped and put together by the band.

(SL) How long was the gestation of your new/current opus from conception to delivery?

Will: Too long. It's a difficult task to get five people, all of whom have jobs, friends, bands, and other meaningless bullshit and baggage, together for meaningful lengths of time. If only we could make money doing this and be able to devote more time to it. Ha!

(SL) Reflecting on your new/current record, was your artwork designed with a particular physical format in mind? Who designed it? What are your thoughts the finished physical product? What format is/will be available?

Will: Cavern Apothecary's artwork was designed by Tim Buckley for vinyl release. Basically, we send him lyrics and say, "Go!" and he goes. He is an old friend so he knows what we are all about. He inked this last one on Mylar, apparently the shiny stuff that shiny balloons are made of.  Look at it, it's amazing. It's out on Anthropic records on vinyl and CD. Or you can download it from bandcamp.

(SL) The best and worst things about being in a band?

Will: Worst: Not being able to practice as much as we would like to. Not being able to rely on anyone. Not being the best band in the world yet.

Best: that feeling when the music is coming together. Great riffs, melodies, and harmonies. Meeting awesome people all over the country. Seeing other great bands perform. When the beer flows like wine and the beautiful women instinctively flock like the salmon of Capistrano.

(SL) Influences and heroes, what are turn offs and turn on’s?

Will: I'm influenced by the work ethic and mindset of bands like Fugazi and Black Flag. Hard work turns me on. Pretentious bullshit turns me off. Riffs turn me on. Gear bands turn me off. Snobs turn me off. Open minded people turn me on. Passion turns me on. Fashion and trends turn me off. Dedication turns me on. Entitled attitudes turn me right the fuck off. Try harder, you deserve nothing.

SL) Any record from the past or present that springs to mind?

Will: Tyler just bought an Arthur Brown record. That dude plays what he wants. What a crazy voice. I heard he wore corpse paint? And that would have been in the 60s playing psychedelic rock. "I AM THE GOD OF HELLFIRE!"

(SL) The last album that kicked your arse?

Will: Watching Gorguts play at MDF, holy hells. They are unspeakably good musicians but they write music that means something. It makes you feel shitty about your own abilities, but is also inspiring. Plus they seem incredibly nice, not the kind of people who would "cool guy" you, despite their godlike status. Musically, their new album is kicking everyone's asses.

(SL) What was your first instrument or musical experience and what do you use today?

Will: There were always instruments in my house as my parents are both very musical. I had a clay flute that I used to rock out with. I used to sing a lot of made up songs about my dog and superheroes. Classic rock was integral to me. Tyler and I both played sax in grade school and switched to bass in middle school. I then switched to guitar because no one else could write anything. I play a Gibson SG because I love the shape. It's got horns. It also happens to feel and sound just right.

(SL) One item, gear or otherwise that characterises your band and one item from your set up you cannot live without?

Will: Evan and I both play out of solid state Sunn Concert Lead heads. They sound great with pedals in front of them. None of my gear is sacred to me. As long as it sounds good, I don't care. I do really like my Maxon distortion pedal. It's got a tube in it. Fancy shit, man. Tyler uses one too, for the bass. Evan has a whole array of pedals, but his sound for Hivelords is achieved mainly with a $30 behringer boost pedal. It sounds great, and when you operate without pretense or other such concerns, you can pull stuff like that off without a care. Whatever works.

(SL) Pro-tools versus old school?

Will: I can't wait for the day when we can go old school, but it's expensive to do so. Pro tools is fine for now. Pirated versions only. I've been messing around with Reaper and it is pretty legit software, although I'm not comfortable with it yet.

SL) Blogs and social media vs. getting on the road and touring?

Will: Sludgelord aside, we have yet to really be embraced by the blogosphere. We are all about hitting the road anyway. We love touring and playing live. We seem to be making true, long term fans this way. I'll add another band that has inspired us; our friends in Fight Amp. Those guys were road dogs for years, and all their grassroots hard work is seemingly paying off. It might be nice to be loved by the internet, but that kind of success is most likely shallow and fleeting if it's all you've got. That being said, the internet has been an invaluable tool for us and I welcome our eventual YouTube superstardom.

(SL) What are your survival tips for the road, any rider requests?  Orange M & M’s for example

Will: Have a water bottle and use it incessantly. Save empty bottles for piss jugs in the van. Always dump your piss jugs. Do not drink Gatorade found in the van without thorough smell testing. All we ask is to be paid fairly, and, please, oh merciful fate, let their be drink tickets.

(SL) What have been your band highlight (s) thus far

Will: The bigger bands we have played with have all been pretty down to Earth. Ardent Vein has been a legend amongst us ever since we played with them in Seattle. There are so many great bands and people that there are too many highlights to recall without snubbing a bunch of great people. Fuck it, shout out to our boys Dendritic Arbor. We are kindred band spirits.

(SL) Vinyl Junkie or Ipod flunky? Discuss

Will: We are vinyl enthusiasts. The merits of the medium have been thoroughly discussed many times before, so I won't belabour that point; they rule. But! I have an iPod and listen to it daily. Obviously they are way more practical for transportation. I also like cassettes because of the nostalgia factor and because they are cheap and no nonsense. And they sound pretty great on my stereo. CDs I have always been terrible with. I break the cases upon opening them, and then I put them in a wallet and scratch them.

(SL) Finally, do you have any final comments/word of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?

Will: Absolutely. Thank you all and keep up the great work

Written by Aaron Pickford

Thanks to Will for taking the time out to talk to us at Sludgelord HQ. Check The Band From Links below.

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