Wednesday 20 February 2013

Headless Kross & War Iron - Split (Review)

By: Matt Fitton
 
Album Type: Split 7inch
Date Released: 5/1/2013
Label: Independent



First up out of the blocks is the charmingly monickered 'Crater of Needles' by Headless Kross, Galloping along at hefty pace, it's just the right mixture of sludge and doom. Think early High on Fire, that kind of Sabbathy inspired punk/metal hybrid. There's a ripper of a solo mid way through that really is the icing on the cake. The second half of this split is occupied by War Iron and their offering, the evil puntastic 'Angelgrinder', Close your mouth when you listen to it or your fillings may come loose. Throw in some viciously gargled vocals and you may need to stare at some pictures of kittens for an hour afterwards just to lift you out of the mind fog these dudes can inflict. Now that's powerful.
 
“Headless Kross/War Iron” Split  tracklisting
 
A) HEADLESS KROSS – “CRATER OF NEEDLES” (4:30)
B) WAR IRON – “ANGELGRINDER” (4:30)
 
The Review:
 
I like split releases. They're a cost-friendly and usually highly collectible way to discover like-minded bands, all neatly wrapped up in the same parcel. And it's bargain day here at doom central - where it's always 'Black Friday'...
 
First up out of the blocks is the charmingly monickered 'Crater of Needles' by Headless Kross. I love the raw production on this track; it conjures images of long haired teens tape trading in the mid 80's, staring at walls in their bedrooms because of how much their minds have been blown. Galloping along at hefty pace, it's just the right mixture of sludge and doom. Think early High on Fire, that kind of Sabbathy inspired punk/metal hybrid. There's a ripper of a solo mid way through that really is the icing on the cake. And just like High on Fire these guys really do prove how much beautiful noise a well-honed power trio really can make. It's quality, not quantity.
 
The second half of this split is occupied by War Iron and their offering, the evil puntastic 'Angelgrinder' (who doesn't like an evil pun?). The first thing you notice after letting this piece kick you in the teeth is the bass. And the reason for that is that there are TWO bassists. And NO conventional six-strings. Think about how heavy that must be for a second. Well, you're wrong. It's even heavier than that. I used to believe that nothing could come close to how bleak 'Streetcleaner' by Godflesh is, but this is damn close. Close your mouth when you listen to it or your fillings may come loose. Throw in some viciously gargled vocals and you may need to stare at some pictures of kittens for an hour afterwards just to lift you out of the mind fog these dudes can inflict. Now that's powerful.
 
Overall a great showcase for some great home-grown talents. The future is bright for doom and sludge right now. And ironically its groups like Headless Kross and War Iron that are keeping it healthy.
 
 
“Headless Kross/War Iron”available to buy here and DD here