ALBUM REVIEW: Wormwood - "Mooncurse"

By: Ernesto Aguilar


Album Type: Full length
Date Released: 20/10/2017

Label: Translation Loss Records

Wormwood's performance on "Mooncurse" is doom in the purest sense. Purposeful pacing and incredibly weighty riffs aplenty.  As you make your way to "Passage of Fire," Wormwood's greatest traits are on full display: an impeccable grasp of timing, dark musical sequences and undefeatable heaviness

 

"Mooncurse" CD//DD//LP track listing

1. Infinite Darkness

2. The Undesirables

3. Forlorn

4. Mooncurse

5. Parasitic Twin

6. Burn the Psychic Vision

7. Passage of Fire

The Review:

Terms like 'supergroup' are so overused that it is near impossible to truly quantify it with anything real. Shouldn't bands from which players come from reach a particular echelon, sales threshold or, well, something? So when a fantastic band like Boston's Wormwood gets the term hung on it, one has to resist the meaninglessness of the phrase, and instead focus on its gifts.

In the case of Wormwood, those gifts come from both intense chemistry and superlative musicianship. Drummer Chris Bevilacqua and guitarist Chris Pupecki, previously known from local act Doomriders, offered up Wormwood's self-titled debut EP in 2014. The heaviness of that premiere was so warmly received that hopes rose for Wormwood's return. Three years and two new members – Mike Gowell, previously of Phantom Glue, on guitar and Greg Weeks, previously of Red Chord, on bass – later, and Wormwood strikes back, with the 's' word bandied about, and an impressive new album, "Mooncurse," to show for it.

When it was a duo, the band was particularly effective at setting a claustrophobic mood through distortion, rhythm and harrowing effects. Now as a quartet, Wormwood redoubles this commitment by making even richer sounds in this regard. Wormwood touches down with "Infinite Darkness," whose haunting strings set up what becomes quickly a throttling opening cut. Into "The Undesirables," previewed for this album, you hear a prime example of how much larger Wormwood sound with its extra hands and more much more penetrating approach. The pacing of this song and lyrics make it a standout. Meanwhile, "Forlorn," which follows it, a striking instance of a change up that does not sound out of place or confusing; cresting slowly, the song's guitar assault comes in fits and starts, at first with an almost folk-style chord progression into a much more rapacious attack.

Wormwood's performance on "Mooncurse" is doom in the purest sense. Even its fastest playing is in the spirit of some of the best offerings this year. Purposeful pacing and incredibly weighty riffs aplenty. A song like "Burn the Psychic Vision" is such a great listen because it is well arranged, with drums and bass that luxuriously creep through your mind's eye. The new double guitar lineup adds depth to this cut, as well as to entries such as "Parasitic Twin" and the title track. As you make your way to "Passage of Fire," Wormwood's greatest traits are on full display: an impeccable grasp of timing, dark musical sequences and undefeatable heaviness. Whether you subscribe to the supergroup tag or not, Wormwood lives up to the road it cut in its debut, and then some, with a full-length to be appreciated.

"Mooncurse" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

TRACK PREMIERE: Forfeit life to Wormwood and yield to their bludgeoning new track "The Undesirables"

Rewind almost 3 years and a couple of old friends got together to make a heavy depressing/empowering racket. Formed by Chris Pupecki perhaps better known as guitarist in Doomriders and their original drummer Chris Bevilacqua, these Boston natives debuted their self titled EP, via PATAC Records/ Magic Bullet Records, 5 tracks that were driven by a bestial, hard-hitting mid-tempo grind and a distinctly unpolished, ugly, and bottomless bass rumble, the discordant ooze of guitars with effect-laden sludge atmospherics that consistently unsettled you with brutally effective tritonal dissonance before spacing you out with smooth doomed slow jam riffs.  

WORMWOOD's debut was a  sonic nightmare from, a dark, psychedelic journey of fuzzed out doom metal and stoner-dirge riffs that shattered all pre-conceptions… WORMWOOD pours out of your stereo like a plague of carrion insects and  make no mistake the pedigree of this band is mouth watering, with members of Phantom Glue and The Red Chord rounding off this quartet.  Now following 3 years in the wilderness,  on October 20^th 2017, WORMWOOD will issue their debut full length “Mooncurse” on Translation Loss Records, arguably the best underground label on the scene today and we recently caught up with the band to get the low down on new record. 

"It's less standard "doom" this time around and now has elements of sludge, some psychedelic moments, guitar harmonies, quieter pretty parts and even a couple noise rock moments. All in all though I feel it blends together nicely without sounding like a patchwork of genres and it still retains the darkness, anger and bite of our original release, just maybe more interesting ear candy happening now."

"It does have an apocalyptic feel or a feel of isolation/rejection/depression that tends to come up lyrically as well as sonically. I truly believe playing heavy music is the greatest therapy in the world, and so for me, all the darkest stuff in the recesses of my mind seems to come up and kind of release while I play and I always feel better afterwards...for a little while at least."

With a release date set for 20/10/2017, a new label and preorders for the record already open (here), you can get your first taste of the new record with an exclusive stream of the track “The Undesirables” below, which is unapologetically crushing. We hope you dig it. Forfeit life to WORMWOOD

Live Rituals

Direct support for ALL PIGS MUST DIE
10/19 - Saint Vitus, NY
10/20 - Great Scott, Allston, MA

Band info: facebook

Phantom Glue - "776" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 13/05/2016

Label: Negative Fun Records

Phantom Glue make a racket that feels distant and timeless, yet crushingly fierce and contemporary. Their potent blend of High on Fire-style aggressive riffage, filtered through a grimy noise rock lens is a powerful proposition, delivered with the gut-punching crunch of Mastodon’s “Remission”.  “776” is an absorbing voyage into an intoxicating fantasy world. Phantom Glue have created a beast of an album, equal part brains and brawn and always dangerous.

“776” CD//DD track listing:

1). Ion Cloud

2). Hundred Hand

3). Somatic

4). A Worker-less Mill

5). Suttungr

6). Hocheims War

7). God Is Dead

The Review:

History lessons have never sounded better than “776”, the new LP from Boston’s Phantom Glue. Based around vocalist/guitarist Matt Oakes’ lyrical vision of a mythological United States in the year 776. The band create a musical backdrop equal to Oakes’ wild imagination.

Phantom Glue make a racket that feels distant and timeless, yet crushingly fierce and contemporary. Their potent blend of High on Fire-style aggressive riffage, filtered through a grimy noise rock lens is a powerful proposition, delivered with the gut-punching crunch of Mastodon’s “Remission”.  The band subtly wraps this onslaught in a subtle psychedelic haze, bringing a real sense of scale and mystery to the album without blunting their serrated attack. “Ion Cloud” and “Somatic” provide perfect encapsulations of this approach while other influences make their presence felt elsewhere.

“Suttungr” is the album’s lengthiest track, lumbering into life with a lethargic, Melvins gait before gathering pace to a heady finale topped with a wired, exploratory solo. Bursts of raw thrash, reminiscent of Saviours, spring forth unexpectedly, particularly effective at the frenzied climax of “Hocheims War”. The rippling psychedelic undercurrents of “776” bubble to the surface for “Gog Is Dead”, bringing the spacey sounds hinted at earlier to the fore to end the album on a suitably epic and expansive note.

“776” is an absorbing voyage into an intoxicating fantasy world. Phantom Glue have created a beast of an album, equal part brains and brawn and always dangerous.

“776” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

The Sludgelord Song Premiere - "Ion Cloud" by Phantom Glue

By: Aaron Pickford

Today at The Sludgelord I am beyond stoked to reveal that Negative Fun Records and Phantom Glue are pleased to announce the band's long awaited third album will be soon be unleashed unto the world . Entitled “776” the record is scheduled for release on Friday, May 13th 2016 and will act as Phantom Glue's first full length release since 2013's critically acclaimed "A War Of Light Cones" (Black Market Activities), which I rated as my No.1 of that same year.  Despite a 3 year gap, members have remained active in Wormwood, Lunglust and The Proselyte, however this beast has finally arisen from hibernation to create their angriest and most outrageously heavy record to date. 

Negative Fun Records couldn’t be more accurate in terms of reference points to categorise Phantom Glue’s sound “integrating influences as seemingly disparate as noise rock, death metal and sludge/doom into a cohesive sound”.  Over the course of their nearly 15 year existence, Phantom Glue are as likely to reference Unwound as they are Morbid Angel and Neurosis. Their unique blend of sludge and noise rock puts them in a category of one, indeed it is not just their music that appeals, the band’s signature artwork by Matt Oakes is also totally unique and fits brilliantly with their music. 

Vocalist and rhythmm guitarist Matt Oates' vision of a mythological occult history (and apocalyptic future) of the Americas formed the basis for his lyrics and artwork for “776”, creating the aesthetic which has run through each of Phantom Glue's releases.  Negative Fun remarks that the third album's title—“776”, “explores an unwritten history of the United States a millennium before the signing of the Declaration of Independence”.

Recorded at New Alliance in Boston with Alec Rodriguez, who is known for his work with Forn, “776” will be released on May 13th and is available to pre order here.You can listen to the opening track of the album “Ion Cloud” below. So, if you like your riffs weighty and you're a fan of High On Fire, The Melvins, Neurosis and Coliseum, what the fuck are you waiting for? Don't be the fool left in the corner regretting you never checked them out.  Press play and prepare to be crushed.

“776” track listing:

1. Ion Cloud
2. Hundred Hand
3. Somatic
4. A Worker-less Mill
5. Suttungr
6. Hocheims War
7. Gog Is Dead

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

The Sludgelord Present: Full Stream of Phantom Glue's 'Angels of Meth' Demo

For those of you who didn’t know, 27^th Sept 2014 was officially Cassette Store day. Essentially a similar initiative as Record Store day, to support independent music retailers, part of the appeal is limited re-releases or one off specials.  One such exclusive was the release of Phantom Glue’s early ‘Angels of Meth’ demo on cassette via Negative Fun Records.

Dating back to 2006, when the band was known as Angels of Meth, for all intents and purposes, Phantom Glue is Angels of Meth. The band was formed by Matt Oates and has existed in various states since the mid ‘00s.

According to Negative Fun, Phantom Glue was known as Angels of Meth through the course of the recording of their debut full length, the Phantom Glue S/T record. Indeed, it wasn't until after the recording process was completed for this record that the band decided to change the name, to what we now know as Phantom Glue.  Now I am not ashamed to express my love for this band, indeed last year I rated their latest record ‘War of Light Cones’ my no.1 record of 2013.  Their unique blend of sludge and noise rock puts them in a category of one, indeed it is not just their music that appeals, the signature artwork of Matt Oakes is also totally unique and fits brilliantly with their music.  It is no wonder that they’re part of the thriving Boston music scene that continues to boast a wealth of talent. 

Despite the fairly dramatic difference in sound from this 1st demo to Phantom Glue's 2013 release ‘A War Of Light Cones’ (and the soon to exist 3rd full length) the essence of the band; the creative process, aesthetic and lyrical concepts remain the same. Of course, the early demo has a long lasting appeal, because it is a permanent reminder of the ingredients of what would go on to be ‘Phantom Glue’. 

Phantom Glue’s relationship with renowned producer/ Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou is presented on this demo tape and they have recorded with him on each future release, ‘Phantom Glue’ on Teenage Disco Blood Bath Records and more recently ‘War of Light Cones’ on Black Market Activities.  This demo has never existed in a physical format until now, and further illustrates the dramatic development and shift in sound from release to release. For that reason, I’m personally stoked to have the chance to host the exclusive full stream of the demo below.

In other Phantom Glue news, the band is gearing up to record their 3rd full length, again at God City with Kurt Ballou. Indeed Mike Gowell discussed how much of the writing for this new record was done before the release of ‘War of Light Cones’ during my interview with him last year, you can read here.  

Bassist Nick Wolf's band The Proselyte released their new record which you can read here.  The record was released on Gypsy Blood records, the label set up by Stavros from The Atlas Moth's.  These two bands are also touring together in October.   

Phantom Glue guitarist Mike Gowell is playing alongside Doomrider's guitarist Chris Pupecki and former Doomrider's drummer Chris Bevalaqua in the new project called Wormwood.  It is scheduled to be released on CD via Patac Records, vinyl on Magic Bullet Records and cassette via Negative Fun Records.  You can also read our review here. 

You can pick up a copy of the Angels of Meth demo here. Do yourself a favour and check out their other releases too.

For more information

twitter - http://twitter.com/Negative_Fun

facebook - http://www.facebook.com/NegativeFunRecords

web - http://negativefun.com

bandcamp - http://negativefunrecords.bandcamp.com/