6 NEW BANDS: Nikos Mixas' 666 Pack Review for February 2017

 The 666 Pack Review

It’s the February edition of The Sludgelord’s 666 Pack Review and will there be love in the air???  Each and every month we handpick 6 review submissions and critique them by only using 6 words, then we rate them on a scale from 1 to 666!  Check out our awesome rating scale below: 

1 – You should give it up and pay more attention to your significant other. 

2 – You know those heart shaped candies?  This one says, meh…

3 – You could try seducing The Sludgelord more with dinner by candlelight. 

4 – There’s a spark here…tell us more… 

5 – Your Cupid just nailed The Sludgelord with about 20 arrows.

666 - The Sludgelord is head over heels in love with you!

It’s the month of romance, but not all will be loved.  The Sludgelord will listen to several dozen of bands throughout the year but only some will be of his liking.  The Sludgelord is a picky listener…and doesn’t care what you think of his opinions….

1). Uhna  - “Betingad Anstandighet” (EP) – Malmo, Sweden    Rating: 5

Uhna want to hear some more!

bandcamp || facebook

2). Gyrophares de la Haine  - (Demo 2016) – Rouen, France   Rating: 2

Loser! Loser! Loser! Loser! Loser! Loser!

bandcamp || facebook

3).Off The Gallows  - “Cut Yourself” – Siegen, Germany   Rating: 2

I might start cutting my ears...

bandcamp || facebook

4).Unearthly Child - “Awaken” – Jacksonville, FL   Rating: 3

Almost as thick as Florida humidity.

bandcamp || facebook

5).Insonus - “Nemo Optavit Vivere” - Pescara, Italy   Rating: 4

Black metal warms our black heart.

bandcamp || facebook

6). Dawn on Sedna  - “Our Sky Has Changed” – Viareggio, Italy   Rating: 6

Fuck yes!  Italy rules this February!

facebook || bandcamp

Uhna - Demo 2014 (Review)

Album Type: Demo EP

Date Released: 1/8/2014

Label: Bandcamp

‘Uhna Demo’ DD track listing:

1).Only the Dead Go Free

2). Falling

3). Pressure

4). Silenced

Review:

From a slew of albums I could choose to review, Uhna’s Demo EP stood out from the pack.  Their sound instantly grabbed me and held on until the finish, and I knew this was the one.  Hailing from Malmö, Sweden, this 3-piece sludge outfit deliver a heavy dose of sludge style riffs and although not entirely groundbreaking stuff, it is original enough for me to say that they have acquired “their own sound.”

Their demo begins with ‘Only the Dead Go Free.”  At first I didn’t think this slotted into the overall sound of their EP, and it took some time to grow on me, but it finally did.  It’s a somber, slow instrumental intro that will ease you into the sonic bombast to come.  This could have easily been the intro to the track following this, as opposed to being an individual song, but in the end it works out. 

Next is “Falling,” and off we go.  Uhna hits hard with a fierce riff, excellent guitar tones, and the vocal delivery fits perfectly.  No “clean” singing here, this is angry, “yelling style” vocals that can get you into the mood to smash concrete blocks with your skull.  Think Jon Davis of “Conan” and you get the picture.

Third track is “Pressure,” a solid tune that has some “prog-metal” influences to it, ala “TOOL.”  Where I would have liked that style to be a bit less in the forefront, it didn’t dissuade me from listening to it again and again.  Overall they add enough of their own style to keep me interested.    

Lastly we have “Silenced,” the EP’s closing number.  This one is the most gritty (and with just a bit more fuzz than the others) and is by far my favorite track.  Drenched in feedback and reverb, out of the 4 songs this is the one that I hit replay on the most.  Excellent.

Overall this is a fantastic debut EP.  This is a band I will keep my eye on for sure.  As of now, you can download their demo for free at their Bandcamp page.  I highly recommend you do and give these guys a listen.  I doubt you will regret it!

Words by: Mike Lainez

You can pick up the DD here

For more information:

Facebook| Bandcamp