By: TJ
Kliebhan
Album Type: EP
Date Released: 11/03/2016
Label: Triple Eye Industries
This EP is about as efficient a metal release as you’ll hear this
year. The band syncs nicely and put together three solid tracks that should
please most doom and sludge fans and John Gleisner’s versatility behind the
drum kit really sets this EP apart in Northless’ discography.
“Cold Migration” DD//LP track listing:
1).
The Curse of Being
2).
Cold Migration
3).
Conduit
The Review:
Northless have been cutting their teeth in the
Milwaukee metal scene for nearly 10 years now and have been constantly tweaking their sound during that time. The volume, texture,
and heavy riffs remain the band's cornerstone on their newest EP entitled
"Cold Migration", but the
band has never sounded tighter or cleaner than this most recent effort. The
opening track "The Curse of Being"
provides an ample introduction for new listeners while presenting everything
this band can do well. The track features heavy riffs, distortion and noise,
and Erik Stenglein's ferocious growl. This song is a maelstrom of massive
sludge riffs and imposing plodding bass. The drumming is hectic and pushes the
pace of the track to a state of panic.
The next two pieces are much more
monolithic at 7 and 11 minutes a piece. The second track “Cold Migration” is a fantastic doom journey that drastically
changes the pace from frantic to collected and plodding. The riffs on this
track are the highlight of the EP, featuring expertly crafted pace and a nice
series of arpeggios. While Stenglein’s voice is much stronger when it’s being
strained than a more conventional vocal style he does well enough on this track
and implements both. The final track “Conduit”
follows a similar formula to “Cold
Migration”. The riffs are big and Stenglein’s vocals are as angry and
tortured as ever. Drummer John Gleisner who set the pace on the first track
appropriately slows his playing to match the slower riffs well. This track offers
a moment of tranquil melody before coming back as pummeling as before. The
track takes a triumphant almost post-rock turn here to close a very solid EP
from Northless. This EP is about as efficient a
metal release as you’ll hear this year. The band syncs nicely and put together
three solid tracks that should please most doom and sludge fans and John
Gleisner’s versatility behind the drum kit really sets this EP apart in Northless’ discography.
