666 PACK REVIEW: The Best of the "666 PACK REVIEW" 2019

By: Nikos Mixas

If you’ve been paying attention, the 666 Pack Review is an abbreviated review column mostly focused on very new bands or bands that have submitted demo material to THE SLUDGELORD.  The basic premise is that 6 bands are critiqued using only 6 words and on a scale from 1 to 666.  What you see below is the best of the year 2019 for the “666 Pack Review”.  There were 8 bands that received the highest of ratings so please go show them some love by revisiting their music and their web pages.  We at THE SLUDGELORD hope great things come to them.  Congrats and hails to those bands that made the list!  May 2020 be sludgier and heavier!

January – There were two 666’s! (Does that make it 1332 or 121212?)

ILS “Pain Don’t Hurt” (Portland, U.S.A.)

This band won the Portland trophy. 

Yuxa “Yuxa” (Brighton, United Kingdom) 

If Godflesh kicked the industrial habit…

February

Seed of the Sorcerer, Womb of the Witch “Spell Book I: Ceridwen” (Denver, U.S.A.)

Guitar tone alone worth the 666!  

April

Mireplaner “A Mountain of Saola Hooves” (Finland)

Guaranteed to cardiac arrest old people.

May

Inhuman Nature “Inhuman Nature” (London, United Kingdom)

Sexy thrash ala the Bay Area!

August

Old Horn Tooth “From The Ghost Grey Depths” (London, U.K.)

God-doom fucking-tastic start to the month!

September

MUNT “Towards Extinction” (Melbourne, Australia)

Fucking hate on the barbie mate!

October

Adliga “Kali Paćjače Njeba” (Minsk, Belarus) 

Belarus for the win!  Отлично comrades!

6 NEW BANDS: THE SLUDGELORD's "666 Pack Review" (October 2019)

By: Nikos Mixas

Welcome to THE SLUDGELORD’s October’s “666 Pack Review”.  This time of year is often referred to as “Rocktober.”  The reason?  Tours…lots of them.  It’s difficult to keep track of and actually go to all the shows you want to because there are so many and that shit costs $$$.  Are any of the bands in this month’s “666 Pack Review” touring?  How the fuck would I know??? I just review them!  So, 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 tour themed rating scale below: 

1 – I’d give this band four flat tires so they couldn’t tour!

2 – Your band is in the equivalent of a ditch, you can get out, but it’s going to take some work.   

3 – Breaking even on tour isn’t satisfactory, nor horrible…sort of like this band. 

4 – Not having any shows fall through on tour is important, in fact, it’s considered a positive.  Congrats, this submission was pretty decent.  

5 – The best thing about touring is a packed house.  I’m pretty sure this band will have no problems doing so.

666 – This band sounds like they’re already chomping at the bit to tour.  THE SLUDGELORD abides…

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). Leaden Fumes “Abandon Ship” (Basel, Switzerland) Rating: 3

Swampy instrumentation, vocals have Pentagram feels.

 

2). Misleading “Misleading” (Portugal) Rating: 2

Venom meets an Electric Wizard interlude…

 

3). Wyoming Young and Strong “Death and Ruin” (Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.)    Rating: 4

Has a strong Big Business vibe.

4). Cattiva “Cattiva” (Buenos Aires, Argentina) Rating: 3

Cattiva needs some sativa. Chillax dudes…

 

5). Iffernet “Iffernet” – France   Rating: 4

Le black metal traditionnel…oui oui!

 

6). Adliga “Kali Paćjače Njeba” (Minsk, Belarus) Rating: 666!

Belarus for the win!  Отлично comrades!

Band info: Adliga || Iffernet || Cattiva || Misleading || Leaden Fumes