By: Aaron Pickford
Album Type: Split 12inch
Date Released: 01/04/2012
Label: Speaks Volumes Records
‘Split LP’ LP//DD track Listing
Bastard of the Skies
1).
Willalee Bookatee (02:27)
2).
The Knuckles of Saint Bronson (3:58)
3).
Grays Sports Almanac (3:49)
4).
Human Skull (4:53)
5).
Don't Let It Bring You Down (3:51) (Neil Young Cover)
Catatomic
1).
Void (11:07)
2).
I Went To You (4:05)
The Review:
Over
the years we have been blessed with a number of excellent sludge metal bands
hailing from the UK; Iron Monkey, Helvis, and Raging Speedhorn to
name but a few. Hailing from Blackburn, Lancashire, Bastard of the Skies are
continuing that tradition and according their web page, their music is 'The soundtrack to
drowning in a swap of your own shit'. The band have cemented their own
sound by welding massive, lurching, riffs to sludgy noise and discordant melody.
Playing
their own brand of discordant filth since 2006, what we have on offer here is
another slab of no holds barred gut spewing filth. The 5 tracks we're presented
with are quite simply, brutal! The opening track ‘Willalee
Bookatee’, sets the tone for much of the record, with the opening
blast of drums, kicking into their loathsome blend of piercing
riffs, compounded by vocals which sound like a vicious attack on your
senses. The song is an example of unparalleled savagery, it
is a wonderfully grisly. 2:27 of ear splitting audible torture and we love
every second of it.
‘Grays Sports Almanac’ is another
extraordinarily ugly and vicious beast, this is for me, some of the best sludge
noise I am likely to hear this year and as heavy as hell. The metallic tone of
the guitar is monumental and the song is easily some of best stuff they have
ever produced. There is not a second wasted on the
tracks on offer here, they batter, bruise and pound you into
submission, seemingly leaving your senses crushed into fragments. ‘Human Skull’ is probably the slowest
sludgiest track on the album. Sounding like the bastard (no pun intended)
offspring of the Melvins, you can't fail to
be impressed by the intensity and ferocity of the track. Bastard of the skies deliver a dynamic and uncompromising
blend of down tuned monster riffs, vicious vocals and brutal rhythms
With
a new record entitled 'Tarnation' due for release sometime in the
summer, this Split is the perfect appetiser. They have created
something hideously ugly, a monster that lurches for your jugular from
beginning to end. It is not pleasant, however if like your music hard, heavy
and ferocious, look no further and buy this record. I loved it.
In
terms of the reverse side, I found it difficult to review a band solely on
a couple of songs, however once the opening assault and battery
of the drums kick in , 'Void' bursts
into life! The opening minute and half of the
song consists of droning low end bass and vintage
doom sounding guitar, sliding between notes until the song
lurches forward into a classic Electric Wizard
sounding riff. Simple and yet heavy, the song
is seemingly based upon a fluid 4 bar chord sliding riff,
interspersed with a 'Symptom Of The
Universe' type acoustic guitar section and that is a feature of much
of the song. The song almost induces nausea due to the Ebb and flow of
the track. The vocals fit well with the track and they feel as
if they are spoken, rather than sung and that style sits well with the track.
The song weighs in at a mammoth 11:07 and due in part to little variation to
the track, it does feel like it outstays its welcome a little, however 'Void' is a fine example of a retro
sounding doom track of days gone by.
'I Went To You',
is a track I have a little more difficulty with, it is
curious in that it has a vibe which feels as if it was improvised. An
acoustic track and poles apart to 'Void', it wouldn't feel out of place on a Lou Reed
record and feels a little off centre. This is by no means a
criticism of the band but in terms of material, the track doesn't feel as
strong as 'Void' and left
me feeling a little disappointed. As
I said earlier, I found it very difficult to judge this band solely on the two
tracks on offer, however on evidence of the track 'Void', Catatomic do show they have potential and
hopefully they will go on to create bigger and better things.
This
‘Split LP’ is available here
Band info: Facebook | Big Cartel | Bandcamp
