TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 (July 2017)

Olde

Yes, it is that time again O ye lover of riffs, “THE SOUR 16” returns.  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 THE SLUDGELORD Headquarters.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then 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 the red)

16). Entrails - “World Inferno” (370)

I can't find any fault with this album from intense opener to epic closer of “The Blood Breed”, the band don't put a foot wrong. This is raging death metal, plain and simple

15). Viscera/// - “3: Release Yourself Through Desperate Rituals” (373)

"If one were forced to classify the band’s current sound, post-metal might be the safest category, but even that vaguely defined subgenre does not quite do the band justice, as it fails to mention the strains of psychedelia, black metal, hardcore, death metal and the band’s grind roots to are still very present in VISCERA///

14). Eternal Black - "Bleed The Days" (374)

The sheer weight of the riffs will indeed threaten to pull you under, as they deliver just the right amount of menace to go with the fuzz. There is a hefty dose of soul in the music here, along with a pervading blackness.

13). Norska - "Too Many Winters" (393)

“Too Many Winters” is a captivating collection of powerful doom steeped in Norska’s unorthodox and compelling personality.

12). Cloud Rat/Disrotted - "Split LP" (413)

This is an awe-inspiring release from two incredible bands who can seemingly do no wrong at the moment and continue to deliver an embarrassment of heavy riches in 2017.

11). Goatwhore - "Vengeful Ascension" (458)

“Forsaken” jumps out of your speakers and down your throat and suffocates and entertains the listener in the best way possible. There’s nothing quite like what this band can deliver – the riffs, vocals and drumming is first class and unique

10). God Dethroned - ‘The World Ablaze’ (466)

If you’re a longtime fan like me, this album is everything you’d want and then some. ‘The World Ablaze’ is all of the best elements of the God Dethroned’s entire discography amalgamated into a single album.

9). God Root - "Salt and Rot" (518)

God Root have managed to craft one of the most ambitious, progressive, and emotionally harrowing offerings of 2017.  The cosmic journey of “Salt and Rot” is one that will leave you shaken to your fleeting, human core.

8). Voivod - "RRRÖÖÖAAARRR", "Killing Technology", "Dimension Hatröss" (Reissues) (534)

7). Wounded Giant - "Vae Victis" (581)

there are moments of majestic riffing and an impressive amount of variation on offer

6). Owlcrusher - "Owlcrusher" (697)

With three tracks spread across 45 minutes, each song embraces sprawl and space: the reverb heavy drum tone pounds like the pulse of a leviathan.  The low end guitar tone crackles with fuzz, while the bass rumbles so menacingly that, with the right sound system, you may get your guts churning like you’ve just been forced to smoke a whole pack of unfiltered cigarettes – you’ve got the cold sweats, your insides feel poisoned, and you’re probably gonna puke, but god damn it you’re hooked

5). Destroyer of Light - "Chamber of Horrors" (719)

I will have to say that this album falls into an epic category for its great compositions, the honest heart involved in creating such a journey of ebb and flow, the range of emotion that continues what true music is about; music that continues what early St. Vitus and Trouble were doing, but DoL are creating it their own way.

4). Cirith Ungol - "King of the Dead" (Ultimate Edition) (724)

It's a very engaging listen, 33 years on and is an absolute must have for any fan of doom- or anyone looking at how the genre started to really form into something (along with the work of Vitus, Trouble et al).  An essential album and a worthy reissue. Enrich your record collection and your life by buying it!

3). Melvins - "A Walk With Love & Death" (727)

On “A Walk with Love and Death”, the Melvins do both things that their cultish fans love about them, and do them both damn well.

2). Venomous Maximus - "No Warning" (731)

In some places on the album, those qualities are phrased in the same ways that fans have come to expect, and so admirably, but in other spots on “No Warning”, Venomous Maximus explore new ways to do that which they’ve always done: create infectiously and wonderfully diabolical music.

1). Olde - "Temple" (866)

Olde’s “Temple” is doom metal done the way it should be. It is well-crafted, forward-thinking, and a contender for one of the best records of the year.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  July 2017’s “SOUR 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Daniel Jackson, Charlie Butler, Ben Fitts, Mark Ambrose, Mark Tremblay, Jay Hampshire, Jack Taylor & Eric Crowe.

ALBUM REVIEW: Wounded Giant - "Vae Victis"

By: Jay Hampshire

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/04/2017

Label: STB Records

there are moments of majestic riffing and an impressive amount of variation on offer

“Vae Victis” DD//CD//LP track listing

1. Vae Victis (9:30)

2. Dysthiest (6:20)

3. Immanentize The Eschaton (Jim Jones Instrumental) (4:43)

4. Scum Of The Earth (7:03)

5. The Room Of The Torch (7:36)

6. Green Scar (6:09)

The Review:

If you’re not up to snuff on your Latin, ‘Vae Victis’, the title of the second full length from Seattle based psych-doomsters Wounded Giant, roughly translates as “woe to the conquered”. While this might conjure images of a record full of mighty battle hymns and victorious fist-pumping metal, the six tracks and near hour of riffing tells a much different story.

The title track opens the show with a ghostly rush, approaching as if from a great distance. It’s loud and immediate, settling into a groove buoyed by tumbling, scattered toms and military snare roll snaps. The main riff grinds and thunders like a slightly slower Slomatics, loping along before locking in and slowing down into an Electric Wizardian buzzing guitar line. When the band start to crawl it’s much more menacing, switching up into tension building section before dropping into a tasty groove with snatches of deep bass. There’s a lot of variation here, but it’s the conclusion of the track where things really pick up, a maze of twin wandering guitars.

‘Dystheist’ is all scuzzy bass and tribal drumming, growling feedback and swaggering guitars pitching the band between a slightly lighter Conan and a less woolly Mastodon. ‘Immanentize The Eschaton’ (you kiss your mother with that mouth?) chimes like an old school Hammond organ, a wah heavy bass undertow and lazy drums joined by punchy chords and a pulsing synth loop, muddled in with vocal samples that too be honest is a tad tough to comprehend.  ‘Scum Of The Earth’ is swollen with sludgy weight, straining vocals riding out the deep, bluesy undertones, a muted chugging drive dragging us through. It’s less changeable and varied than the previous, but the psyched out guitar layers, droning vocals and frantic drumming make it seem like you’re falling into a tunnel of brown acid. ‘The Room Of The Torch’ shimmers and wavers, guitars tentatively licking in, forming into a righteous riff reminiscent of The Sword. Satisfying stuff, energetic and well executed, even if the climax is a little on the standard side.

‘Green Scar’ is slow, foreboding and buzzy. Sighing vocals and striding riffs match pace with restless, cymbal heavy drums, but for the album’s zenith, it seems a little weak and directionless. The latter word is perhaps a decent, if harsh, summary of the record. While there are moments of majestic riffing and canny song structure here (and an impressive amount of variation), there’s no sense of real unification of purpose. Coupled with some vocals that err a little too much on the ‘spirited amateur’ side of things, some lyrics that are a little too ’14 year old writing in the back page of a school book’, plus a music scene saturated with bands doing this exact thing (and often better), and ‘Vae Victis’ more likely won’t find its way into your heavily rotated records.

“Vae Victis” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

Random Question Generator: STB Records Vs Goya & Wounded Giant

Alex - Wounded Giant Drummer

Bobby - Wounded Giant Singer

Jeff - Goya Singer

Nik - Goya Drummer

When STB contacted you about the release, what was your initial reaction about a split EP and the band he suggested you do the split with?

Alex - We were like Goya?? Who the fuck is that......hahaha nahhh we were

stoked.

Bobby - Well, I've lived under a rock for a few years now, and didn't know my

ass from a hole in the ground when it comes to labels. so I had to do some

research. I liked what I saw, and found out our buds in Ancient Warlocks had

turned you onto us. The stars aligned, the rest is history, hah!

Jeff - Man, we were stoked! Honestly, we hadn't heard Wounded Giant

before this, and it was great to get exposed to them. Thematically, we seem

to go very well together, and we are different enough to really compliment

each other.

Nik - I wasn't contacted, but when I was informed about the situation my

immediate reaction was excitement. I tend to be kinda late to the party with

a lot of bands and had no prior knowledge of Wounded Giant but after

checking them out I was definitely stoked. 

You recently did a short tour together, how was the tour and give me your top highlight?

Alex - Yeah we did a short Northwest stretch together. Super fun but not long

enough. It usually takes a few shows to start warming up and get to know

each other. Highlight would be the Shirts Off after party at the Victory in

Seattle. It was the STB showcase show with Ancient Warlocks, so good smoke

filled times.

Bobby - Fun shows, good people, too short. I dig 'em, man. Goya are the shit.

We were just getting into fighting shape, and then had to part ways. I'd like to

do it again soon! 

My personal highlight was being heckled by a super old drunk guy at the spot

we played in Tacoma. He was yelling shit like "no one likes your band." And

"you're gonna play something with melody this time, right?" I thrive on that. 

Jeff - Tour was awesome, and as you said, short. Way too short. The highlight

(aside from Day Of The Shred!) was probably playing in Salem, OR the same

day they legalized weed there.

Nik - Tour was rad. It was also my first time touring in any band so the highlight

was truly the entire experience. It sounds like a cop out, but it's the truth.

Feeling completely unplugged from my life at home and getting to play in

front of both relatively large and very small crowds alike... Also, touring states

with a much more progressive attitude towards cannabis was a definite

enhancement. 

Who has influenced you the most, music and non music?

Alex - My Father is my biggest musical inspiration, taught me everything.

Bobby - Oh jeez. I'd say other than on music angles, which are soooo many I

hesitate to say them, just living the weird life we live. I think we've all seen

some crazy things, and that shows. Horror movies and books are cool, too.

Jeff - Richard Ramirez

Nik - Jay Randall

Inspiration behind the song(s) for the split?

Alex - Thats probably more of a Bobby James question, so I'm sure he would

say wizards and Conan and HP Lovecraft and witchy shit, hahaha. Dylan & I

are more just Road Dawgin' it Shirts Off style with some Del Taco & tasty Bud'z.

Bobby - The Room of the Torch is a love song about how beautiful babes are

when they dance, and how weak men are for that power...loosely based

around the story of Salome dancing for king Herod in the Bible. Dystheist is

inspired by my absolute hatred for billionaires who leech off of all of us. It's a

murder/revolution  fantasy. Hahahaha.

Jeff - Richard Ramirez and all of the sheep.

Nik - Jeff is a riff machine.

Give us your take on how the art work came out for the album?

Alex - Really stoked on David Paul Seymour's work, super talented dude.

Bobby - I'd like to think me and the Angel of Death are at least good

acquaintances by now. Digging the nice portrait by DP Seymour, and would

like to shake his hand. Not the Angel of Death, he can wait.

Jeff - Haha, man, what a crazy process we went through for the art! I think

there were 3 or 4 iterations of the cover before DPS was hired on. We love the

art! David is great.

Nik - . I have very little to do with the visual concepts behind Goya. I have

even less to do with the visual concepts behind a Goya/Wounded Giant split.

I saw some different versions of stuff and it changed dramatically. The finished

image is fantastic!

Where did the band name (s) come from?

Alex - Wounded Giant came from an obscure Groomer dude in Denver

Colorado the year 2000 High5 with Tom Denney on a Dudefuckinhellyeah!

Tour. After we shot fire works into a cave thinking we killed a bear, but was

really just and old tunnel groomer. He spoke of ancient groom bands (Infinite

Monolith of Slavery, Impaled Circle of Psychosis, Hollowed Log, Wounded

Giant....ect.. ect.. ect....)

Bobby - A crazy old wizard cornered Alex once and laid down some serious

paranoid knowledge. He said to "beware the wounded giant." So, beware the

Wounded Giant my friend.

Jeff - The Spanish painter, Francisco Goya.

Nik - A painting entitled "Saturn Devouring His Son" by Francisco Goya, which is

from series of sorts that Goya did near the end of his life, referred to as The

Black Paintings.

What is your music background, punk, Metal, hardcore, etc and tell us the path you took to end up where you are now?

Alex - We all have pretty different but similar backgrounds. I'd say Blues, Jazz,

Country, Rock, HC, Grind, Metal .

Bobby - All of the above, except band geek. I can only speak for myself, but I

only started playing shows because my old band was put on a flyer, so me

and some friends figured we better write a set. Many years and hard lessons

later, I'm playing with my favorite musicians ever. Thanks random dude who

put me on a bill!

Jeff - All of the above! Haha. In grade school I played organ, then saxophone,

then clarinet, then when I turned 12, I discovered Metallica, and it was all

downhill from there! Kurt Cobain was the musician that made me pick up a

guitar. From there I started playing in punk bands, and that slowly evolved into

metal.

Nik - Obsessed with music as a kid. Grew up with a dad that was into metal

and a mom that was into all kinds of stuff. I started playing in metal bands on

Guitar and Bass really early and they were all terrible bands. I've done vocals

in some Powerviolence and Hardcore bands as well but I found my natural

habitat behind a drum kit and cut my teeth on Grindcore, and DM. I love

metal of nearly all kinds but Goya is my first venture into "Doom" territory as far

as playing goes.

First Favorite album, BE HONEST?

Alex - I'd have to say Motorhead

Bobby - Weird Al, Dare to be Stupid. I had that thing memorized. To this day

when a MJ or Madonna song comes on I hear his lyrics instead of the original.

He's a fucking genius, bless him.

Jeff - That's a tough one, but it's probably Ride The Lightning.

Nik - The first two that I remember blowing my mind were actually Paranoid by

Black Sabbath which was my dads record. The second was Ride The Lightning

by Metallica and I had that on Cassette and pretty much wore the thing out.

It was the first cassette I ever purchased... with money from a birthday card.

When you die, one word to describe your life?

Alex - Amazing!

Bobby - "Inconceivable!" Does a Princess Bride quote work?

Jeff - Fucked.

Nik - Indulgent

2015 wish list?

Alex - A wish / Dream for 2015 would be to have some backing. We tour a lot,

crank out tons of merch, and set things up 100% DIY style, which get super

expensive when its all out of pocket.

Bobby - Free time to write songs, money for new gear, record a new record
and have a big tour on a train from town to town. I think Willie Nelson did that...

Jeff - Weed.

Nik - My wish list for 2015 is, for Goya to garner great interest and support from

as many people as possible...  For the upcoming split to do well... For cannabis

to be legalized for recreational use across the US... or for the world to just end

completely.

For more information:

Label | Goya | Wounded Giant