Sunday, 27 May 2018

6 NEW BANDS: THE SLUDGELORD's 666 PACK REVIEW (May 2018)

By: Nikos Mixas
Art by: Joshua M. Wilkinson 



It’s the May edition of THE SLUIDGELORD’S 666 PACK REVIEW!  While some of you may be graduating school or looking for a summer job, the album/demo submissions keep pouring into THE SLUDGELORD’S inbox for review.  If you’re new to this, each and every month we handpick 6 review submissions and critique them by only using 6 words, then we rate them on a scale from 1 to 666!  Check out our very spring-like rating scale below: 

1 – We’re guessing when you let your mother listen to your band on Mother’s Day, she cried...       
2 – Even with Shinedown, Sevendust and Five Finger Death Punch releasing new material this month,          that still won’t help your cause.    
3 – May is the most average month of the year, it’s not too shabby, nor exactly great.  Congrats on being   a May!       
4 – Just like the new Candlemass, we’re intrigued.  Keep working at it.    
5 – Time to start planning those mini-tour dates!  You need to get yourselves out there! 
666 – THE SLUDGELORD crowns you with flower helmet encrusted in emeralds representing fertility and success because that’s the best we can do for May!  Hails! 

Caveat:  Even though the 666 PACK REVIEW is meant to offer humorous critique, there are no safe spaces here and your gripes will only make you sound like a bellyacher.  THE SLUDGELORD is a picky listener…and doesn’t care what you think of his opinions….

1). vAv,  “vAv” (Tel Aviv, Israel)    Rating: 3

Textbook doom that plays it safe.




2). Arakk, “Under Søvnen” (Copenhagen, Denmark)   Rating: 3

Two songs, too similar, too bad.



3). End of Hope, “D E M O” (New York City, U.S.A.)   Rating: 2

I’m “hoping” this isn’t the “end.”  



4). Denim Casket, “Demo” (Boise, U.S.A.)   Rating: 5

Old school grind meets G.G. Allin




5). Titanosaur, “Eat Me” (Hudson, U.S.A.)   Rating: 1

One man band with computer skillz.



6). Montagne, “Spring Birds” (Paris, France)   Rating: 4

Post Hardcore is still a thing?



Bonus: Yanari, “Marine Leg Demo” (Buffalo, U.S.A.) Rating: 4

Solid doomage.  Vocals are missing reverb.



Band info: vAv || Arakk