Album Type: Split
Record
Date Released:
10th
May 2014
Label:
Future Noise Music
Bastard of the
Skies / Grimpen Mire - Split (Vinyl) track listing:
01.
Yarn (Bastard of the Skies)
02.
Bao Fu (Bastard of the Skies)
03.
Wounder (Bastard of the Skies)
04.
Old Vessels (Bastard of the Skies)
05.
Hollow Wreck (Grimpen Mire)
06.
Vermin Hive (Grimpen Mire)
07. Fragments of
Forgotten Craft (Grimpen Mire)
Bio:
The
ground will shake as Future Noise bring two rising titans of the UK
underground together for what will be one of the heaviest releases of
the year. Blackburn’s noisiestsludge merchants BASTARD OF THE SKIES
and Birmingham’s purveyors of filthy doom GRIMPEN MIRE go head to
head on a limited split 12” featuring new, previously unheard
tracks
from both bands.
Bastard
of the Skies take over side A, with four songs that further reinforce
the potency of their hard-hitting, sludgy noise rock that so
captivated anyone subjected to their most recent full-length, 2012’s
‘Tarnation’. Cavernous, bass-heavy monsters like ‘Yarn’ or
closing behemoth ‘Old Vessels’ will make side A’s 20 minutes
feel like 20 years of ugliness,
corruption
and anger as the unstoppable mega-riffs pile around the poor
listener.
Side
B is left entirely to Grimpen Mire’s sonic pollution, and their 20
minutes are spent with but three songs, each driving the listener
down into a deeper, darker pit of death and despair. Sounding even
more despondent than they did on their cult debut full-length, 2012’s
‘A Plague Upon Your Houses’ which still seems to plague us today,
Grimpen Mire
deliver
proper horrid doom as a perfect complement to Bastard of the Skies’
opening confrontational aggression.
All
seven songs were recorded by Bastard of the Skies guitarist/vocalist
Matt Richardson at his own Full Stack Studio, and to further
reinforce the massive weight of both bands, master of sonic grimness
James Plotkin (OLD, Khanate, Khlyst) was roped in for a typically
amazing mastering job. The limited 12” is still adorned by Michael
Cowell’s deeply
evocative
artwork, perfectly capturing the feeling of creeping dread evoked by
both bands.
The
Band Members
Bastard
of the Skies is:
Matt
Richardson (Vocals/Guitar) Claire Horrocks (Bass) Matt Aldred (Drums)
Grimpen
Mire is:
Paul
Van Linden (Bass/Vocals) Jim Goad (Guitar/Vocals) Ian Davis (Drums)
Bastard of The
Skies (Side A) - Review:
The eagerly awaited
split record from two of the UK heaviest's Doom/Sludge Metal
bands is finally upon us. Bastard Of The Skies and Grimpen Mire who
we are huge fans of here at Sludgelord HQ.
These bands fucking
crush everything in sight on this outstanding release of brutal and
heavy sludge metal riffage. Each band is allocated 20 minutes each to
pulverize you into submission. Bastard Of The Skies are the first
band to deliver their trademark crushing riffs with the heavy
pummelling nature of Yarn. A track that shows why we rate Bastard Of
The Skies so highly. The band leave no stone unturned in playing some
fast paced and dangerous riffs to get you in the mood. If you're a
fan of High On Fire then this band will speak volumes to you. Lead
vocalist – Matt – pours his heart and soul into this song as his
vocals are bleak as they come. You can feel his pain cutting right
through your body.
Bastard Of The Skies
unleash their primal fury once more on Bao Fu. It goes straight in
for the kill with intense riffs that leave you no doubt the band mean
business here. It ain't pretty but these Bastards have a job to do.
So buckle up and shut the hell up as this song is one loud mean
pissed off track that the band don't hold back from. There are a
couple of moments where the band slow things down a bit but not for
long as this band belongs in the darkness. They thrive on the dark
and bleakness of it all. Though it still has a lot of groove for you
to rock out to.
Third Track – Rounder
– is a fast paced Sludge Metal affair that goes straight in for the
kill and doesn't let rip for one second. Matt is screaming his heart
out yet again. His vocals take an almighty pounding here but it's his
bandmates Claire on Bass and the other Matt on drums that gives
Rounder a brutal edge of it's own. As they both play out of their
skins here.
Last but by no means
least for Bastard Of The Skies is the 8 minute epic Old Vessels that
carries on the brutal style of attack that has came before it. This
is the loudest track on this split release. So play this song nice
and loud to get the full effect.
Grimpen MIre
(Side B) - Review:
Now
it's time for Grimpen Mire's turn to obliterate your hearing into
submission. It's been a while since I have listened to Grimpen Mire's
debut album. But listening to their side of the split record brought
all the brutal and brilliant memories flooding back as I forgot how
loud these guys can actually be.
Their
first offering – The Hollow Wreck – carries on the brutal tone
where Bastard Of The Skies left off though with healthy slice of doom
metal thrown in for added measure. Grimpen Mire play on your worst
fears by bringing a scary doom and gloom vibe to the party. It has
shades of early THOU and that is no bad thing but Grimpen Mire throw
in some NOLA style riffs to lighten the mood just for a brief second
or two.
2nd
track – Vermin Hive – is a torturous slab of intense vocals and
slow-paced riffs combining for one bleak as fuck tale that will have
you on the edge of your seat. The dual vocals of Paul and Jim
brilliantly play off each other like two classic horror icons
battling it out for psychopathic supremacy. Jason and Freddy have
nothing on these two evil mofos once they get going. It's bleak as
hell but Grimpen Mire have managed to included some atmospheric riffs
that will have you rocking out to.
Grimpen
Mire's last offering is the 8:09 minute epic – Fragments of
Forgotten Craft. A slow paced monster that takes time in building up
the atmosphere with some bass heavy riffs to chill your soul to.
Another stand-out track from this excellent split release. The vocals
are once again sung at you with terror and menace lurking in the
background. Though Grimpen Mire deserve credit for adding a funeral
doom like organ instrumental piece towards the end of the song. It
will send chills down your body.
My
final thoughts – Well this is an outstanding release showcasing two
of the UK's finest and heaviest bands from the Doom/Sludge Metal
scene. This is a must have release. Spellbinding and creepy as hell.
Thanks
to Future Noise Music for sending us a promo to review. Bastard of
the Skies / Grimpen Mire - Split (Vinyl) will be available to buy
from May 10th2014.
Check
The Bands From Links Below
Bastard
Of The Skies
Grimpen Mire
Written
by Steve Howe
