ALBUM REVIEW: Lord, "Desperation Finds Hunger in All Men"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/08/2018

Label: Heavy Hound Records

“Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” takes the thrash infused sludge of last years “Blacklisted” record and blows it up on a grand scale to deliver the Virginia quintet’s finest work to date.

“Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” CD//DD track listing:

1). No Sunrise on the Third

2). Scorched

3). Nature Knows No Kings

4). At First I Didn’t Believe It

5). La Fleur du Cobalt

6). August 11, 2017

7). Whispering Snakes

8). Mutilation Rites

9). Have A Look For Yourself

10). This Lonesome Linger

The Review:

The joyous news of the arrival of a new Lord album is tempered by the fact it will be their last. “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” takes the thrash infused sludge of last years “Blacklisted” record and blows it up on a grand scale to deliver the Virginia quintet’s finest work to date.

It is not certain whether or not this release was created knowing it was to be Lord’s swansong. Either way, it is brimming with a fearless urgency and restless urge to experiment that feels born of a band determined to go down swinging. “No Sunrise On The Third” wastes no time in getting things moving with a rumbling Soundgarden style riff. Lord soon introduces a healthy dose of southern sludge Down would be proud of and some surprisingly melodic vocals which contrast well with the surrounding heaviness.

From here, “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” charts a journey through concise, fist-pumping stoner anthems like “At First I didn’t Believe It” and “Whispering Snakes” and massive, slowly-unfolding epics. “Scorched” comes across like Crowbar branching out into progressive territory while “La Fleur Da Cobalt” finds the band at their most passionate and enraged. Most devastating of all is the monstrous “Nature Knows No Kings”. It begins with what feels like the cacophonous climax of a punishing doom track and proceeds to drive a single ominous riff further and further into the depths of despair. Over the course of eight and a half minutes, Lord create a broiling cauldron of crushing sludge, squalling feedback, unhinged lead guitar and desperate vocals that makes for a unique ride into the beyond.

Just when you thought there were no more twists and turns to negotiate on this LP, Lord sign off with “This Lonesome Linger”, a twelve minute acoustic piece. The style really suits the band with their complex compositions working equally as well with the volume down, embellished with string arrangements.

Lord can be proud that they have gone out on a high with “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men”. Hopefully this album will inspire others to follow their path into uncharted waters of doom and sludge.

“Desperation Finds Hunter In All Men” is available to preorder/buy here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Lord - "Blacklisted"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: Heavy Hound Records

Label: 26/05/2017

In a genre often bogged down by soundalike bands, Lord offer a sharp shot of adrenaline in the form of “Blacklisted”. The band’s distinct blend of gnarly thrash and filthy sludge deserves to see them go far.

“Blacklisted” CD//DD track listing:

1. Mile After Mile
2. They Lied
3. The Bandage
4. Blacklisted
5. The Heart of a Hero
6. Not Your Problem?

The Review:

Lord don’t take any prisoners on new release “Blacklisted”. Over the course of 30 breathless minutes the Virginian’s unleash a barrage of High On Fire-indebted stoner thrash dredged from the deepest swamps of New Orleans.

The opening trio of “Mile After Mile”, “They Lied” and “The Bandage” find the band in unstoppable full flow. Sections of raging high-octane mayhem crash into the kind of huge sludge riffs Down would be proud of, while a variety of throat ripping howls and barks wail overhead. The title track sees Lord add bursts of dirty death metal and furious blastbeats into the mix which bring an edge of nastiness to their already grimy sound.

The undertones of Crowbar’s slow-motion misery that bubble under the surface throughout “Blacklisted” are given free rein on “The Heart of a Hero”. Lord ably demonstrate that they can slow down to a languid crunch without any loss of impact and still deliver a devastating blend of crushing riffs and epic melody. The track peaks with a huge solo that distils everything that is great about this release; a perfect mix of technical ability and ragged, untamed energy.

“Not Your Problem?” brings the record to a close in strong, anthemic fashion. It’s the closest Lord get to a regular song with elements of straight-ahead punk’n’roll aggression mixed in with their trademark deadly riffs. It provides a suitably powerful vehicle for a rant on consumerism and not turning a blind eye to the world descending into chaos.

In a genre often bogged down by soundalike bands, Lord offer a sharp shot of adrenaline in the form of “Blacklisted”. The band’s distinct blend of gnarly thrash and filthy sludge deserves to see them go far.

“Blacklisted” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Volume IV - Long In The Tooth - Album Review

Album Type:Album

Date Released: March 11th 2014

Label: Ripple Music

Long In The Tooth - Track listing:

1.Looking Low For A High 04:39

2.Utero/Long In The Tooth 03:31

3.Wager 02:51

4.Blackwater 06:09

5.Save Your Servant 04:55

6.Kong 03:01

7.Cabal 01:23

8.Awake The Dreamer 03:16

9.Save Your Prayers 01:43

10.Locust Have No King 03:55

Band Bio

Volume IV, featuring Joe Carpenter of Atlanta thrash-veterans Nihilist. Ripple Music is proud to reveal the band's label debut, Long In The Tooth, which will be coming out in the US on March 11th.

With equal parts elegant beauty and steamrolling aggression, Volume IV serve up a piece of ear candy for the ages with Long In The Tooth. This first release with Ripple Music is a concise, 36-minute thrill ride of swampy metal heroics, featuring heavy grooves, classic bluesy stoner riffs, and an overall impending sense of doom. These boys bring back the old school attitude of musical sensibility, working hard to master your instrument, and taking pride in creating a wide pallet of musical styles: Thunderous drumming locked tight within the pocket, bass guitar providing a dense foundation for the thick guitar and gritty yet melodic vocals that lay on top. In a world where everything is mechanized, click-tracked and auto-tuned, Volume IV does it the only way, the honest way, straight from the gut, which is what we need to make music human again and separate the men from the boys.

Individually the members of Volume IV have shared the stage with legendary acts such as Motörhead, Iron Maiden, Danzig, Mastodon, Corrosion Of Conformity and Down just to name a few. Led by singer/guitarist Joe Carpenter and filled out by bassist Blake Parris and drummer Troy King, Volume IV is set to stun the music world with one of the most anticipated releases of the year!

For Fans of Black Sabbath, Corrosion of Conformity, Orange Goblin, Monster Magnet, Down and Pentagram!

The Band Members

Joe Carpenter – Guitars/Vocals

Troy King – Drums

Blake Parris – Bass

Review:

Long In The Tooth is the much anticipated debut album from hotly tipped Sludge Rockers – Volume IV – who have been teasing the Sludge/Stoner/Hard Rock world with snippets of music for the past 6 months or so. Now I am happy to report that Volume IV are primed and ready for music domination as they have delivered a pulsating debut album packed full of hard hitting riffs.

What is the first sign of greatness for Volume IV? Well they are signed to the best Hard Rock Label on the planet – Ripple Music. Any band signed to Ripple Music you know you are in for a great time. As Ripple Music, only sign but the best bands and they have another winner on their hands here. However, this is a review for Volume IV debut album. And what an album it is.

Volume IV blends Sludge, Doom, Stoner, and a healthy appreciation of NOLA style riffage. First track – Looking Low for a High – is the perfect introduction to the band as it’s a perfect mixed of fast-paced riffs and highly addictive vocals which all adds up for a truly dangerous rock and roll band. This is not surprising since they are led by Joe Carpenter from legendary Thrash Metallers – Nihilist.

This hard-rocking power trio do not fall into any genre. They are musical renegades and outlaws preaching their own deadly brand of Hard Rock. It is just that Volume IV pack an almighty Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal punch that will knock you sideways repeatedly.

Listen to the excellent 2nd track – Utero/Long In The Tooth – that features at the band laying down some epic riffs that can give Mastodon a run for their money. As Volume IV pull out all the stops in giving you one hard-rocking ride that will have you rocking out singing along to in no time at all. This is hard rock of the highest order.

Do you ever wonder what Thin Lizzy would sound like if they ever went down the Southern Rock route? Well the answer is here folks on the superb 3rd track – Wager – with Joe on fine form his fine gravelled vocals giving this track extra groove. But it is the riffs where the guys impress the most as it features some awesome Thin Lizzy style riffs.

By now I was loving the FUCK out of this album as they guys don’t waste a single second of the albums 37 minute run time. Volume IV pour their hearts and souls into the album as you can feel the intensity of every note, lick and riff coming straight at you.

Up next is – Blackwater – a 6-minute Groove/Blues/Hard Rock track that has an earthly Southern based vibe to it. Volume IV add extra thick layers of 70s based Stoner Metal riffs to give this track an almighty epic feel to it. Joe once again shows what a fine vocalist he is as he sings his heart out here. The other band members Troy and Blake play their part by laying down some outstanding instrumental work on drums and bass respectively.

I don’t want to do a track-by-track review as I will be here all day but Volume IV have delivered a stunning debut album packed full of monumental riffs for you to devour. If you need more proof then I advise you to check out the gigantic sounds of KONG. A murky swamp based blues stoner rock blast that will have your heart beat thumping 100 times faster as Volume IV are fearless in their approach to music.

Long In The Tooth is a brilliant debut album and its the perfect introduction to Volume IV’s crushing riffs that will have you coming back for more punishment.

Ripple Music have signed another outstanding talent to their label. Buy this album when it comes out. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to Mona at Platinum PR, Cat at Southern Cross PR and Ripple Music for sending us a promo to review. Long in the Tooth will be available to buy from March 11th 2014 on CD/DD/Vinyl from Ripple Music

Check the band from links below.

facebook.com/VolumeIV

volume-iv.com/

ripple-music.com

ripplemusic.bandcamp.com