ALBUM REVIEW: Various Artists - "Meantime" (Redux)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 19/08/2016
Label: Magnetic Eye Records

Meantime (Redux)” is a face-melting reinterpretation of what many consider Helmet’s finest hour, it   pulls off the tricky balance of paying respectful tribute to a classic album while being an excellent listen in its own right. Hopefully it will introduce long-term Helmet fans to some exciting new bands and make any other people with their ears stuck in the underground realise that Helmet were great all along.

“Meantime (Redux)” DD//LP track listing:

01 – I Am Become Death – “In The Meantime”
02 – Earthship – “Ironhead”
03 – Ironweed – “Give It”
04 – Sunflo’er – “Unsung”
05 – KEN mode – “Turned Out”
06 – Kings Destroy – “He Feels Bad”
07 – Meek Is Murder – “Better”
08 – Ironweed – “You Borrowed”
09 – The Glorious Rebellion – “FBLA II”
10 – Fuck The Facts – “Role Model”

Bonus tracks:

11 – Fashion Week – “I Know”
12 – Rosetta – “Like I Care”
13 – Livver – “Sinatra”
14 – Heads. – “Blacktop”
15 – BlackWolfGoat – “Bad Mood”
16 – Brief Lives – “Milquetoast”

The Review:

The influence of Helmet seems particularly strong in the current heavy underground. Their brand of noise rock-indebted alt metal can be detected in a number of 2016’s finest releases, the relentless adrenaline rush of Wrong’s self-titled LP being a good example. It feels like the time is right for Magnetic Eye Records to unleash “Meantime (Redux)” into the world. A track-for-track recreation of Helmet’s 1992 major label debut “Meantime” by ten contemporary amp abusers, it demonstrates that the impact of the bands 90’s output is still felt almost 25 years into the future.

I’ve got to come clean and confess I am not the world’s biggest Helmet fan. They were always a band I meant to check out but from the mid-90s to the mid 2000’s I knew them only as the band with the guy who does a killer guest solo on Therapy?’s “Troublegum”. I finally heard them in 2005 when I caught a tepid set at Download festival. This put me off listening further until now. “Meantime (Redux)” is a face-melting reinterpretation of what many consider Helmet’s finest hour which has given me the opportunity to go back and give the band the respect they deserve.

All the bands here deliver the goods and sound like they are having a blast getting to grips with such classic riffs. I Am Become Death kick things off with a filthy and feral run-through of “In The Meantime”. It’s a faithful reproduction of the original with a throat-shredding vocal performance and distortion levels well into the red. Earthship and Sunflo’er also stick fairly close to the script and deliver excellent versions of “Ironhead” and “Unsung” respectively. Ironweed, Kings Destroy and The Glorious Rebellion also don’t deviate too far from the source material but bring the latent stoner rock undertones in “Give It”, “He Feels Bad” and “FBLA II” to the surface.

The highlights of “Meantime (Redux)” come when the original tracks are bent almost out of recognition. Meek Is Murder transform “Better” into a searing blastbeat-riddled beast of a track in the vein of Converge while Fuck The Facts achieve similarly brutal results by recreating “Role Model” as two minutes of fearsome grind. Although not as shockingly different as these two belters, KEN mode manage to inject enough of their trademark sound into “Turned Out” to give it an angular Botch-style makeover.

Not content with a full recreation of “Meantime”, “Meantime (Redux)” also features six bonus tracks where more bands tackle songs from the Helmet back catalogue. The cream of these extras come from Fashion Week and Heads. Fashion Week inject some burly riffage into “I Know” from “Betty” but also bring a welcome dose of synth-assisted melody. Heads’ classic Shellac/Jesus Lizard style rumble is a great contrast to the metallic sound of the majority of bands on “Meantime (Redux)”. They stretch “Blacktop” from “Strap It On” into six minutes of taut, dark menace.

“Meantime (Redux)” pulls off the tricky balance of paying respectful tribute to a classic album while being an excellent listen in its own right. Hopefully it will introduce long-term Helmet fans to some exciting new bands and make any other people with their ears stuck in the underground realise that Helmet were great all along.

“Meantime (Redux)” is available here

THE SLUDGELORD PRESENTS: The Sour 16 for August 2016

SubRosa



It is time cast our minds back upon the month of August and digest the 16 albums that would become August’s sacrilegious ‘Sour 16’, the finest and most profane riffs around bundled together into a premium sized sonic soufflé.

You know the drill, each month; you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records that we featured in August, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  The ‘Sour 16’ are the records that have been trending the most at Sludgelord Headquarters.

 

The results are compiled based on page views alone and calibrated into the list below. So kick back, with a cold one and let the power of the riff compel thee! All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in red)

16). Bossk - "Audio Noir" (364)

The shimmering soundscapes of “The Reverie” gently ease the album into life. The track glides through waves of serene guitar atmospherics, before being crushed under a slab of molten distortion. Even though the classic quiet/loud dynamics of post-rock are employed here, Bossk manage to avoid the obvious, telegraphed crescendos by taking a more understated approach, conversely when they crank up, Bossk prove that they have honed their riffcraft to perfection. “Heliopause” is a relatively short burst of stoner aggravation while “Atomsmasher” fully delivers on the cataclysmic power of its name. In summation, Audio Noir” is a triumph for Bossk that sees them comfortably deliver on their fans’ anticipation for a full-length.

 

15). Body Void - "Ruins" EP (371)

Sounding like a seismic shift, 'Swans' instantly obliterates everything. The riffs slowly and mercilessly attack the central nervous system while the vocals suffocate and strangle. At the tail end of this EP comes the even more epic and gigantic 'Ruins', if you can imagine Andy Dufregne's escape in ' The Shawshank Redemption'; slow, filthy, dark, foreboding, this track is the embodiment of it. Body Void have set the bench mark pretty damn high now, surely they will follow this up with something truly amazing.

 

14). Warfather - "The Grey Eminence" (397)

“The Grey Eminence” is a better record than Warfather's debut (which was in itself a good album!) and is a credit to those involved. This is a style of death metal I like a lot; a mixture of all elements of the genre without too much of any one thing. This is controlled force and a must listen for death metal heads everywhere.

  

13)= Earthship - "Hallowed" & Khünnt - "Failures"  (405)

“Hallowed”is well represented with monolithic riffs, multi layered vocal arrangements and in standout track “Monolith” it delivers one of the heaviest moments within the course of the album. To me it appears as if the band had held back on us up until this point, because they have unleashed a truly astonishing album, which pummels and pounds you with a thick narcotic groove. This album is sonic alchemy of all their best elements, making this album a great listen and one to be admired.

 

 

Khünnt create the kind of bleak racket that would make even Khanate cry themselves to sleep, echoing the ragged noise rock monotony of Shit and Shine it is strangely euphoric and completely crushing in equal measure. “Failures” is a bold step forward from Khünnt. It sees them maintain their reputation for sonic drudgery while finding new ways to subject the listener to aural torment.

11). Howling Giant - “Black Hole Space Wizard”: Part 1” (EP) (469)

Howling Giant come across as a confident band that are bursting at the seams with invigorating hooks that sound as familiar as they are new. They have the discipline to take their time fleshing out riffs without losing sight of the song, their energy and passion is felt throughout, which is the glue that holds this EP together.

 

10). Make - "Pilgrimage of Loathing" (526)

An encompassing album that sees Make drag the psychedelia and post-metal of their previous recordings into a sludgy realm full of menacing atmospherics and hard-hitting riffs, Pilgrimage Of Hate is sure to please those who like their doom dark and heavy, but less predictable than the average group.

 

09). Lord Vicar - "Gates of Flesh" (551)

For anyone wanting quality traditional doom, the purchase of this album is a no brainer. Lord Vicar represents the very best in the genre and this album is a focused and fulfilling listen.

08). Hexxus - "Tunguska" (577)

Hexxus brings something different from the word go, desolation lays in their wake, pain and fear tremble before their sheer levels of decibel destruction.

 

7). Yeti On Horseback – “The Great Dying” (583)

Soaring melodies, crushing and enveloping riffs, brutal vocals, “The Great Dying” has got the lot! It's beautifully downtrodden in it's make up and utterly captivating.

 

6). Devil Electric - "The God's Below" (EP) (647)

 

Hailing from the Melbourne, Australia, Devil Electric unleash abevy combination of, ‘riffs of old and new in a collision of unholy matrimony’.

 

5). Black Tar Prophet/Iron Gavel - "Black Tar Prophet/Iron Gavel" Split (636)

 

4). Castle - "Welcome to the Graveyard" (829)

This is fantastic heavy metal of the most traditional kind, forged, I can only assume, in the fires of hell

 

3). Shadow Witch - "Sun Killer" (915)

This record is a fine debut and places the band amongst the retro rock/doom/metal scene but shows that they have a unique sound and approach. If you have been enjoying bands such as Demon Eye, R.I.P, Uncle Acid, Satans Satyrs, Electric Citizen and so on, well, Shadow Witch are better then some of them and can mix it with the best of them!

 

2). Slomatics – “Future Echo Returns” (1608)

When a band's guitarist has their own signature fuzz pedal, it's a safe bet that they can cut through solid rock with their riffs; when both guitarists have an alternate version of the same pedal then prepare your eardrums for some serious, rock crushing heaviosity. The towering heaviness of the riffs and the images of the infinite, shimmering darkness of space is executed and captured perfectly. An amazing album worthy of any and all praise it will undoubtedly receives.

 

1). SubRosa - "For This We Fought the Battle of Ages" (2694)

If you love really emotionally charged hard hitting music, give this record a listen. I had very high expectations of this record, and those expectations were met and then exceeded.

 

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  August’s “Sour 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Dan Brownson, George Parr, Charlie Butler, Chris Bull, Hunter Young, Eric Crowe, Victor Van Ommen  & Gerardo Pacheco

ALBUM REVIEW: Earthship - "Hallowed"

By: Gerardo Pacheco

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 24/06/2016
Label: Napalm Records

“Hallowed” is well represented with monolithic riffs, multi layered vocal arrangements and in standout track “Monolith” it delivers one of the heaviest moments within the course of the album. To me it appears as if the band had held back on us up until this point, because they have unleashed a truly astonishing album, which pummels and pounds you with a thick narcotic groove.  This album is sonic alchemy of all their best elements, making this album a great listen and one to be admired.

“Hallowed” CD//DD track listing :

1.Reduced to Ashes (04:11)

2.Hollowed (04:26)

3.Valley of Thorns (03:42)

4.Conjured (03:25)

5.Monolith (04:04)

6.In Fire's Light (04:13)

7.In the Arms of Medusa (03:14)

8.Castle of Sorrow (03:46)

9.Safeguard of Death (04:38)

10.Red Leaves (04:26)

11.The Edge of Time (07:09)

12.Blood Candy (Bonus on Limited edition) (03:08)

13.The Edge of Time (Bonus on Limited edition) (04:11)

14.Hollowed (Bonus on Limited edition) (03:33)

The Review:

The almighty vessel that is Earth Ship (or Earthship, depending on who you ask) set sail back in 2011 from the Grey City of Berlin, DE, with their debut album “Exit Eden” (Pelagic Records, 2011).  The aforementioned LP set the model of sound they were striving to achieve, that which became evident when they literally dropped the bulky “Iron Chest” (Pelagic Records, 2013) followed by hasty riff-seared “Withered” (Pelagic Records, 2014).

This new entry in their proverbial log marks the departure from Germany’s Pelagic Records, wayfaring to Austria’s well respected Napalm Records. This 47 minute jaunt (or 58 minutes on the Limited Edition) gets under way with eerie atmospherics on “Reduced to Ashes”, unfolding the sludge canvas to take advantage of favourable stoner winds.

A progressive tide hits the keel on the title track, and we get a glimpse into the Oberg’s (Sabine & Jan) multi layered vocal arrangements that leads into a pounding breakdown bringing Earth Ship about.  Coming at you like a knockdown wave in the middle of a thunderstorm comes “Valley Of Thorns” the albums 1^st single, rolling with the fury of a hundred oars, guided by Florian Häuser’s pulsating beats, which then give way to a blinding solo to finish it all off. Sabine then steers the tempo on “Conjured”, which reminds us of early 90s Seattle fuzz-infused resonance. Dissonant riffing complements the underlying bass tone in conjunction with the Oberg’s crooning. Standout track “Monolith” carries on with the post-grunge banner, only to strike those colours and supplant it with one of the heaviest moments within the course of the first half of the record.

Opening the second leg of the expedition, “In Fire’s Light” sees the band harken back to their sludge foundation, pummelling and pounding through a thick narcotic groove with some math rock hooks, supplemented by melodic dual humming which compliment Janus’s harsh vocal work expertly. Kicking things up a notch, the tempo for “In The Arms Of Medusa” arrives like a Gorgon army ready to smash your teeth in, and do pay attention to the commanding ride cymbal accents on this one, some fine wrist work on display.

Don’t be fooled by “Castle Of Sorrow”s gloomy title as it picks up right where “Medusa” left off. A commanding riff smack in between thrash and black metal drives the chant, until it gives way to a head banging chorus. It is from this point forward that I truly believe that the band starts experimenting with their sounds and evolve to what was presented on the 2^nd and 3^rd singles that pre-empted the release. For example, the figurative view from the “Safeguard of Death” provides a different take on Jan’s vocals, going for a clear, trance-inducing approach, riding shotgun on top of a sped-up doom/heavy metal pattern, before shifting without skipping a beat to a more radio commercial friendly sound to lock up the track.

Keeping up with that sound I alluded to before, they plunge further into the heavy tone while holding the clean singing routine on “Red Leaves”, another standout track on its own. As we near shore, we see the band reach “The End Of Time”, well represented by its monolithic opening riff. It’s stupid to judge this, but to me it appears as if the band had held back on us up until this point, where they unleash a truly astonishing anthem. Sonic alchemy of all the elements that make this album a great listen can be admired here. A truly sombre (not in a bad way) and majestic way for Earth Ship to meld with the sunset.

If you happen to get the Limited Edition of this release, you get “Blood Candy”, an interesting sludge/post metal instrumental one off that reminds me of the “Withered” days, as well as acoustic versions of “Hollowed” and “The End Of Time” which present a different shade to the bands traditional sound, well worth acquiring if available.

“Hollowed” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

The Sludgelord Video Premiere - "Red Leaves" by Earthship

By: Aaron Pickford

Exercising the right amount of melody with equal amounts of grandiose riffs, Earthship will soon emerge from a their two year recording slumber with the release of their brand new album “Hollowed” on June 24^th via Napalm Records. 

Having premiered “Valley of Thorns “a few weeks back, today we couldn’t be more stoked to follow that up with another crushing anthem in the making, with the premiere of “Red Leaves”.  “Hollowed”, will see Earthship charter new musical territory but retain their core sound, which strikes the right balance between the stronger dynamics of bands like Kylesa and Crowbar, with the melodies Alice In Chains, Earthship’s new album remains one of monolithic proportions.  Check out the awesome tune below and dont forget to pre order the album here

 “Hollowed” CD//LP track listing:

1). Reduced to Ashes

2). Hollowed

3). Valley of Thorns

4). Conjured

5). Monolith

6). In Fire's Light

7). In the Arms of Medusa

8). Castle of Sorrow

9). Safeguard of Death

10). Red Leaves

11). The Edge of Time

12). Blood Candy (Bonus Track)

13). The Edge of Time - Acoustic (Bonus Track)

Band info: official || facebook

The Sludgelord Exclusive Video Premiere: "Valley of Thorns" by Earthship

By:  Aaron Pickford

Formed in 2010, Jan Oberg and his band of bludgeoning troubadours are back.  Following their acclaimed third record, “Withered”, which  we described as “Loud, heavy, aggressive, and full of huge riffs”, 2016 will see Earthship chartering new territory  with the release of their new record “Hallowed” on Napalm Records.  Striking the right balance between the stronger dynamics of bands like Kylesa and Crowbar, with the melodies Alice In Chains, Earthship’s new album remains one of monolithic proportions.

Today, we are excited to present the first taste of the new album, with the UK premiere of their new video, “Valley of Thorns”.  The band had this to say about the track “It is one of our faster, a bit more progressive and cheerful tracks of the album but quite the opposite are the lyrics, mainly dealing with emptiness and despair. A sad and lonesome trip into oblivion but in a very colorful and metaphorical way. It shows you up somehow that we’re all running our private race against time before it’s all over and gone. Life is short, let’s get some shots!”

“Hollowed” is set to be released on June 24^th via Napalm Records. Pre-Orders will be available shortly!  Check out this awesome track below.  

“Hollowed” CD//LP track listing:

1). Reduced to Ashes

2). Hollowed

3). Valley of Thorns

4). Conjured

5). Monolith

6). In Fire's Light

7). In the Arms of Medusa

8). Castle of Sorrow

9). Safeguard of Death

10). Red Leaves

11). The Edge of Time

12). Blood Candy (Bonus Track)

13). The Edge of Time - Acoustic (Bonus Track)

Band info: official || facebook

Earthship - Withered (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 15/9/2014

Label: Pelagic Records

‘Withered’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1). Sanguine (2:35)

2). Serpent Cult (5:07)

3). The Garden (3:01)

4). Dead Faint (3:37)

5). Adrift (3:16)

6). Throne of Bones (3:40)

7). Vail of Gloom (3:29)

8). Lament of Torment (4:07)

9). Emerald Blades (3:41)

10). Withered (1:49)

Bio:

EARTHSHIP was launched by former THE OCEAN drummer, Jan Oberg, in the Spring of 2010. Debut album Exit Edenwas a trip through the vast black sea of doom, metal and prog n'roll, released on Pelagic Records in early 2011. The band played their very first show supporting TORCHE in Berlin in December 2010, followed by a monsterous tour with THE OCEAN, RED FANG and INTRONAUT in 2011.

Shortly before the tour, bass player Gutschke literally disappeared from the map and was replaced by Jan's wife, Sabine, on bass guitar. 2012 finally saw the band shrink to a three-piece: THE OCEAN mainman Robin Staps, who had played with the band since the beginning, left the band due his commitments elsewhere

The Band:

Jan Oberg | Guitars, Vocals

Sabine Oberg | Bass

Florian Häuser | Drums

Marcel Schulz | Guitars

Review:

Having a notable name within a band, particularly when starting out, always helps to gather attention. So when ex The Ocean drummer Jan Oberg started up Earthship in 2010 people inevitably took notice, however it wasn’t long before metal fans were drawn in to their filthy grooves. Debut album ‘Exit Eden’ and follow up ‘Iron Chest’ put Earthship on the metal radar, along with tours with The Ocean, Red Fang and Intronaut, but it’s the vastly matured sound of latest release ‘Withered’ that presents Earthship in their finest form to date.

‘Withered’ finds a measured balance between being savagely heavy yet accessible, which can predominantly be put down to the clarity of the production. Each track is reasonably short and punchy, resulting in a furiously frantic 34 minutes of monstrous riffs and deep rumbling vocals.

‘Sanguine’ offers a dark, heavily bass driven opening to the album, immediately affirming the heavy side to their musical expression, whereas ‘Serpent Cult’ highlights their accessibility, through catchy riffs and the rare appearance of clean vocals. ‘Withered’ utilizes textured vocals, gritty guitars and fuzzy bass to create an immensely thick sound, yet amongst the grit and fuzz is clear distinction between the layers of noise. Noticeable injections of variety are evident in the album; ensuring boredom doesn’t set in at any point. ‘Throne of Bones’ is a prime example of this, reflecting the clear stoner rock influence that has been hinted at in other songs but most prevalent in this one.

Loud, heavy, aggressive, and topped off with huge riffs; ‘Withered’ encompasses all the components required for a solid sludge album. Whilst it’s not exactly 10/10 there is really nothing to dislike. It’s also an album that is sure to translate well live, and I’ll therefore be keeping my eyes peeled for UK tour dates. I suggest you do the same.

Words by: Heather Blewett

You can pick up a copy here

Fore more information:

http://earthship.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/wearetheearthship

http://www.wearetheearthship.com/