Primitive Man/Sea Bastard - "Primitive Man/Sea Bastard" Split (Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Split 12”

Date Released: 07/03/2016

Label: Dry Cough Records |

Black Reaper Records

“Cold Resolve” is Primitive Man’s finest hour to date. Maintaining a suitably crushing tempo throughout its lengthy duration, it’s an intoxicating slab of misery reminiscent of a more aggressive Unearthly Trance  or Iron Lung slowed down to 3 rpm.  Sea Bastard have a knack for constructing huge tracks that flow seamlessly from one section to the next and remain engaging throughout. “The Hermit” is another killer cut from a great band who grow stronger with every release.  This split is a fine way to kick off 2016, two great bands at the top of their game delivering the goods once more and leaving fans eagerly awaiting their next releases.

“Primitive Man/Sea Bastard” Split DD//LP track listing:

1). Primitive Man – “Cold Resolve”

2). Primitive Man – “Servant”

3). Sea Bastard – “The Hermit”

The Review:

Denver’s Primitive Man and Brighton’s Sea Bastard have both attracted the attention of many dedicated riff-worshippers over the past couple of years. It’s easy to see why as both bands deliver their own unique brand of bowel-churning filth. After touring the UK together in 2015 it makes sense for them to share a piece of vinyl to further spread their like-minded gospel to the masses.

Primitive Man weigh in with two tracks; ten minute monster “Cold Resolve” and the shorter “Servant”. Both see the band continue their noise-indebted take on discordant doom, demonstrated so well on the awesome “Scorn” LP. “Cold Resolve” is the band’s finest hour to date. Maintaining a suitably crushing tempo throughout its lengthy duration, it’s an intoxicating slab of misery reminiscent of a more aggressive Unearthly Trance  or Iron Lung slowed down to 3 rpm.  The track peaks at its mid-point as a hypnotic wave of sharp guitar noise washes over cavernous bass notes to create an inescapable pit of dread. “Servant” is a sludgier affair covering the more direct end of the band’s sonic spectrum. It contrasts well with “Cold Resolve”, both tracks work together to provide a compelling demonstration of Primitive Man’s immense power.

Sea Bastard expand their range of massive, side-long songs with the 20 minute behemoth “The Hermit”. The band take a more classic, sludged-up doom approach than Primitive Man but it’s the colossal scale of their songwriting ambition that distinguishes them. The track slowly unfurls from a tar-thick crawl into faster territory, twisting and turning through riffs before returning to the dirt from which it came. A searing racket of a guitar solo emerges from the murk around the nine minute mark providing the ear-scraping highlight of this epic voyage. Sea Bastard have a knack for constructing huge tracks that flow seamlessly from one section to the next and remain engaging throughout. “The Hermit” is another killer cut from a great band who grow stronger with every release.

This split is a fine way to kick off 2016, two great bands at the top of their game delivering the goods once more and leaving fans eagerly awaiting their next releases.

“Primitive Man/Sea Bastard” Split will be available here

Band info: primitivemandoom.bandcamp | facebook | seabastard.bandcamp | facebook