TRACK PREMIERE: Canadian progressive doom duo Uncle Woe, debut the monstrous "Become the Ghost"

Hailing from the oft frozen hills of rural Canada, Uncle Woe is a phantom limb, wielding a bludgeoning tool against mostly true tales of bittersweet sorrow, revenge, and regret.

The bleak desolation of Bancroft, Ontario spawned Uncle Woe in 2019 when principle songwriter Rain Fice (Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Keyboards) grew weary of floundering in non-committed projects and instead dove into song writing mode with a rough idea of his ideal sound and started carving out what would become the first Uncle Woe LP “Our Unworn Limbs”.

After the album was released in 2019 and started to pick up some buzz, a full band began to form. However, the pandemic was not far off and the band whittled down to a 2 piece. 

Before lockdown began, Uncle Woe managed to lock down the rough elements of what would become the second album “Phantomescence”, Fice expanded on them, and after being fed to drummer Nicholas Wowk, and recording remotely, the album was complete: a meandering exploration of death and dreams. Many chugging, bludgeoning passages are offset by expansive and contemplative, subdued, almost post-rock soundscapes.

As Uncle Woe begins to hit their stride, fans can look forward to the band putting out music pretty much indefinitely, plans are in motion for a third album already. The full album “Phantomescence” is due out October 23rd via Packard Black Productions and available for digital, CD and vinyl pre-order HERE. You can out the monstrous track “Become the Ghost” below.

Band info: Facebook || Instagram

ALBUM REVIEW: Garganjua, "Toward the Sun"

By: Peter Morsellino

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/01/2020

Label: Holy Roar Records

“Toward the Sun” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Transcending

2). The New Sun

3). Mire

4). Transcendence

5). Light Bearer

6). Controlling Waves

7). To Ascend (Awakening)

The Review:

The true mark of an album of substantial creativity is the listeners ability to interpret it and form their own connection with it.  Garganjua's epic “Toward the Sun” provides a perfect example of one of those albums. While I cannot say for certain what the group was leaning into in creating this piece, it's floating highs and crushing lows certainly create a narrative that simply begs to be interpreted. In my opinion, this is an album about darkness, and how it can swallow us whole.  More so, it's an album about the light that peeks through that darkness, and how we can grab on to it.

Introductory track “Transcending” offers up a beautiful overture for the listening experience ahead. Solemn guitars create a dreamy atmosphere while an ominous voice over introduces the bleak tone of the album.  “The New Sun” continues down this path, offering glimpses of darkness with fleeting moments of light.  Anger consumes the deep sadness presented in the music before falling back into its persistent melancholy. 

Like angels intermingling with demons, this hard soft dynamic provides the centerpiece of the album. Beautifully melancholic melodies intertwine with crushing low tuned doom riffs.  Light, ethereal vocals float gently atop the crushing sludge.  All of this comes together seamlessly, painting a bleak portrait of the depressive mind.

Transcendence and transformation play a major thematic role over the course of “Toward the Sun”.  This is played to perfection in the penultimate track, “Controlling Waves”. With a much more triumphant tone than the preceding pieces, Garganjua sheds its darkness with a newfound fervor that carries into the beautiful closer, “To Ascend (Awakening)”.

“Toward the Sun” is an emotional onslaught of beauty and despair that begs to be interpreted. Give this one a listen and give it your full attention.  Garganjua want to show you something within yourself, and if you let them, you just might learn something.

“Toward the Sun” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

VIDEO PREMIERE: ALKYMIST unify crushing tones & dynamism on the colossal "Ghost"

Copenhagen, Denmark based ALKYMIST is a new name in doom and one that is certain to pique the interest of even the most hardened traditionalist of the genre.   Unifying the crushing tones of Meshuggah into a slow punishing force, ALKYMIST layer their riffs with texture to ensure their compositions are both crushingly heavy and dynamic. 

The band was formed in 2016 by guitarist Stefan Krey (Gas Giant) and bass player Kaspar Luke (Düreforsög) with the intention of creating the heaviest possible music within a progressive and atmospheric universe.  In 2017, the line-up was completed by singer Peter Bjørneg (Detest) and drummer Philip Kjær Morthorst (The Ritual) and, subsequently, the quartet recorded the debut EP ‘Element’, which was released in January 2018.

Now ALKYMIST are ready with their debut self titled album and it is set for release via Indisciplinarian on 05/10/2018. Consisting of six sprawling compositions over 44 mind bogglingly minutes, today at THE SLUDGELORD you can check out the brilliant new video for the track “Ghost”, so crank up the volume & prepare to let your speakers die.  

Band info: facebook  || bandcamp

RECORDS OF THEIR YEARS....with Joe Rowland of Pallbearer

Few bands have had quite same impact as Pallbearer over the last 6 years. New LP “Heartless” saw the Arkansas quartet complete their journey from underground doom heroes to all-conquering titans of the genre.  Nearly 18 months after the release of “Heartlesss”, Pallbearer have toured relentlessly and perhaps when it was thought there was nowhere else to roam, the band are set to hit the UK this coming Monday 16^th July 2018, with five dates including a spot at Bloodstock. Recently I caught with Joe Rowland (bass) from the band, to discuss music, (what else) but more importantly albums from his birth to the present day.  Check it below.  

SL: Favourite album from the year you were born?

Joe Rowland: I had never really kept mental tabs on this so I had to a quick internet search, and much to my delight I discovered a few that certainly rank very highly (Jesus and Mary Chain’s ‘Psychocandy’, Sisters of Mercy’s ‘First and Last and Always’ and ‘Hounds of Love’ by Kate Bush) but there is a clear winner here for me: ‘No Jacket Required’ — I am and always will be an unabashed Phil Collins fan.  Starting with my dad showing me a live Genesis tape when I was a very young child, I immediately developed an affinity for his music, and I can’t even count how many times I’ve listened to this album. I don’t care if it’s not cool, as seems to be the pervading opinion nowadays. Phil Collins forever! 

SL: First album you bought with your own money?

JR: The first album I bought was a CD of some classical music. I don’t even remember what it was! At that point in my childhood it had been determined by the powers that be that it was against the rules in my household to listen to anything other than classical music. Once I had my driver’s license all bets were off though, and I committed the ultimate act of rebellion by going out and buying ‘My Own Prison’ by Creed on CD. Bonus answer, my first vinyl album that I purchased not too terribly long after that was ‘The Argument’ by Fugazi, which I’m pleased to say is significantly less questionable (although Creed is still good for a laugh from time to time, I’m not going to lie!)   

SL: Favourite non metal / rock album?

JR: This is a tough question… and my answer will possibly also be my answer to the following question as well. I’d have to go with ‘Hosianna Mantra’ by Popol Vuh. Popol Vuh is my personal favourite and overall most influential artist I would have to say. This album, despite not having my #1 Popol Vuh song on it, is utterly transcendent and I strive to inch closer and closer to making music that is as emotive and affective as this album makes me feel. 

Runners up (at the moment)

Popol Vuh, ‘Heart of Glass’

Brian Eno, ‘Ambient 4: On Land’

Klaus Schulze, ‘Moondawn’

SL: Favourite album of all time:

JR: I’ll mention my favourite METAL and Rock albums of all time here: 

For metal, it’s ‘Mob Rules’ by Black Sabbath. It’s perfect, I love everything about the riffs, Dio’s performance, Geezer’s bass playing and tone are 10/10. It’s just a great record that has a lot of “fuck yeah” gratifying moments on it. It’s also one of the greatest records to have drunk singalongs to! It’s an emotional rollercoaster, especially ending on the massively sorrowful ‘Over and Over’. 

For rock, it’s ‘Red’ by King Crimson. This almost defies explanation; it’s such an interesting record, I remember first listening to it and kind of marvelling at how raw it is. Three of the greatest players in relatively recent history, playing what to me is truly emotionally primal music. It’s not polished, but it is very real. It sounds to me to be quite different from the opulent and grandiose sound achieved by many of the other figureheads of prog rock of that time perhaps even rock and roll in general in 1974. There is just something much more mean at work here. And it’s also got that same sort of tragic ending that I enjoyed in equal measure on ‘Mob Rules’. 

SL:Favourite album of 2018?

JR: It hasn’t been released yet, but I’ve heard the new Deadbird album coming out on 20 Buck Spin, and it is easily my favourite thing I’ve heard this year. 

SL:...And finally The last album you bought?

JR: I recently picked up vinyl copies of Craig Leon ‘Nommos’ as well as Steve Roach ‘Empetus’ (two great 80’s synth records if anyone is curious.) Sadly I have not had the chance to spin them on my home hi-fi system yet, but I’m looking forward to some time off the road to immerse myself!

Pallbearer will be touring the UK from July 16th - 19^th – tickets are available HERE.

July 16th – London, The Underworld

July 17th – Glasgow, Stereo

July 18th – Leeds, Brudenell Social Club

July 19th – Bristol, Fleece

Aug 12th - Bloodstock

Their latest album 'Heartless' is out now HERE + brand new single 'Dropout' HERE" 

Band info: official || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Garganjua, "Through The Void"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full length

Date Released: 11/05/2018

Label: Holy Roar Records

“Through The Void” CD//DD//LP track listing

1. Crushed Beneath the Tide

2. Adrift

3. Through the Void

4. A Distant Shore

The Review:

English progressive doom trio Garganjua came onto the scene not too long ago with fresh paint on a time-honored sound, to much conversation. Garganjua does a prog-infused stoner blend that is profoundly complex. While sounding familiar, there are many elements that are largely unexampled – languid chords that are more diverse than the standard stoner playbook, breakdowns that offer expansive arrangements that are mirthlessly heavy, and song compositions with three-part vocals that stay in a space where they manage to be long enough to tell a story without feeling bloated and exasperating. The band's debut EP "Trip Wizard" was well received when it came out in 2014. The 2016 full length, "A Voyage in Solitude," saw growing buzz for the young crew. The band closed out 2017 by announcing this four-song, 45-minute return.

"Crushed Beneath the Tide" launches Garganjua's newest. Its vibe is a forewarning of the forthcoming cuts, with a lingering build and formidable bass assault by way of Gareth Owen. At 12 minutes, this is an adventurous opener, but Garganjua keep your attention with a mix of clean singing and rawer vocals. Later on, the lyrical divergence pays off quite handsomely. "Adrift" relies on power chords to set the scene, before cresting on a slab of drums courtesy of Benjamin Weston, and devastating vocals. While shorter, it is one of the better cuts off the release.

In the title track, it becomes clear that Garganjua are a quartet that is trying to submerge themselves into new places with its music. This song feels more emotional and purposeful, a moody opening, into a clean and not-clean crescendo, then rolling into a valley of guitars. The song is a small detour as far as what Garganjua normally does, and it is a welcome shift. Now three records in, the band seems to be evolving in this regard. "Through the Void" as a song goes into some progressive metal riffage and pacing, for the better. As the track concludes, you have to appreciate Garganjua for being willing to expand what you know of them.

The album ends with "A Distant Shore," a more proggy conclusion of an engaging return. Here you will find the guitar work by Scott Taylor and Gazz Chambers is at its finest, creating an atmosphere that is vast and unfathomable. The first two cuts on this release are solidly stoner through and through, but it's the last two tracks that prompts you to consider what Garganjua can mature into. "A Distant Shore" is quite serene for the most part, but offers you something bolder as the song continues – its dirge is special compared to Garganjua's catalog. Where the group goes is anyone's guess, but this album is a powerful reflection of what Garganjua is and can become.

"Through The Void" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

SATAN'S DOZEN: 13 Unearthly Hymns Unearthed #6 (January 2018)

Compiled by: Andrei Moose

Artwork by: Josh Mashesh

SATAN’S DOZEN is THE SLUDGELORD’s attempt to present the very best music the underground scene has to offer and whilst we’d love to review every band submission we receive, not to mention the countless recommendations you send our way, in practical terms that is just not possible.  Therefore because we don’t want killer music to pass you by, each and every month our member of the Russian chapeter Andrei Moose  painstakingly sifts through the music labelled  killer  riffs” and chooses 13 of the best new albums released via bandcamp and bundles them together into the mightiest riff sandwich.

Whilst all the albums we have included below are top tier stuff, we have compiled them into a chart on a sliding scale of 13-1. So we hope you dig our selections for January 2018 and enjoy 13 Unearthly Hymns Unearthed.  

These bands need more exposure, so go “like” “share” and “follow” their pages, but most of all enjoy some of the best music the underground has to offer.  THE SLUDGELORD most sincerely approves.   Now, go heavy or go home.

13) Sons Of Nibiru – “Hellspirit” (Rzeszow, Poland), Released December 16, 2017

Psychedelic / Stoner-Doom

   
12) Borgonaut – “Borgonaut” EP (Trieste, Italy), Released January 31, 2018

Stoner-doom / Sludge

   
11) FILTHxCOLLINS / SKINLOVER – “Split 7” (Cardiff, UK), Released January 21, 2018

Sludge / Grindcore / Powerviolence

   
10) Taser – “Social Exclusion Blues” (Lahti, Finland), Released January 19, 2018

Sludge

   
9) Dowager – “Hymns for the Dead” (Los Angeles, California), Released January 1, 2018

Stoner-Doom

     

8) Nerveshatter – “Madhouse” (New York(, Released January 9, 2018

Noise / Hardcore / Sludge

   
7) Troll Teeth – “Boiled Alive” (New Jersey), Released January 1, 2018

Psychedelic / Stoner-Rock / Stoner-Metal

   
6) Psychic Lemon – “Frequency Rhythm Distortion Delay”(London, UK), Released January 12, 2018

Instrumental / Psychedelic / Kraut / Prog / Rock

   
5) Floaters – “WAITING FOR AMNESTY” (Tokyo, Japan), Released December 29, 2017

Stoner-Doom / Sludge

4) Smoke – “Stoned To Death” (Houma, Louisiana), Released January 12, 2018

Stoner-Doom / Sludge

   
3) The Mothercraft – “Pillars” (Edmonton, Alberta), Released January 5, 2018

Stoner-Rock

 
2) Legalize Crime – “Beat The Law” (Wroclaw, Poland), Released March 30, 2017

Sludge / Hardcore / Stoner-Metal

    

1) Orphans Of Doom – “Strange Worlds/Fierce Gods” (Kansas City, Missouri), Released January 26, 2018

Progressive/ Sludge / Doom / Metal

Band info: Orphans of Doom || Legalize Crime || The Mothercraft || Smoke || Floaters || Psychic Lemon || Troll Teeth || Nerveshatter || Dowager || Taser || Skin Lover || FilthXCollins || Borgonaut || Sons of Nibiru

ALBUM REVIEW: Oceanwake - "Earthen"

By: Ben Fitts

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 10/03/2017

Label: ViciSolum Productions

The result is forty-five minutes of meticulous songcraft and dramatically contrasting passages. “Earthen” is a journey through the duality of nature itself; it builds from a calm wind to a devastating hurricane, from a tranquil beach to a tsunami. Three albums into their career, Oceanwake is a band that has finally realized and executed the full expanse of their vision, and the result in breathtaking.

“Earthen” CD//DD track listing:  

1). A Storm Serpent

2). In Amidst the Silent Thrones

The Review:

The usage of classical element imagery in Oceanwake’s LP “Earthen” is appropriate; “Earthen” brews like a storm, rumbles like an earthquake and eventually crashes into you like a tidal wave. “Earthen” is the third full-length album from Oceanwake, a Finnish quartet who defy any sort of neat categorization (progressive post-death doom might the closest label one can invent for them, but even that fails to capture everything they encompass). While Oceanwake have always favored extreme song-lengths, they outdo themselves on “Earthen”, which consist of only two tracks: the twenty-one minute long “A Storm Sermon”, and the twenty-four minute long “In Amidst the Silent Thrones”.

As its name implies, “A Storm Sermon” is where “Earthen”’s most celestial energy lives. After a breezy, two and half minute build up, the album’s first crack of thunder is heard as Eero’s Haula’s growling vocals enter. When Haula arrives, so does the titular storm. The mood turns bleak and the patch of sunlight that shone through the track’s beginning struggles through thick, dissonant guitars and a voltaic sense of anxiety. The anxiety builds, even as the tracks tones soften, and cryptic clean vocals hijack  the melody. The celestial energy continues throughout the twenty-one minutes of “A Storm Sermon”, manifesting itself as gentle breezes in a chiming clean section, as brewing, distant thunder builds ups and finally as the very eye of the storm itself in the track’s unrelenting climax. But if “A Storm Sermon” is air, then “In Amidst the Silent Thrones” is water.

Everything about “In Amidst the Silent Thrones” is as massive as the ocean, from its quiet, beckoning moments to its most intense, pulverising riffs. The heavier of “Earthen”’s two tracks, “In Amidst the Silent Thrones” also begins with a sweet, somewhat understated passage. But while “A Storm Sermon” steadily builds until its full force is upon you, “In Amidst the Silent Thrones” gets there suddenly and mercilessly. And, just as quickly as the full-weight of the track’s heaviest moment is upon you, it fades back away, giving you time to  recuperate before it strikes again.

This coming-and-going of intensity has long been a calling card of Oceanwake’s music, but on “Earthen”, and particularly on “In Amidst the Silent Thrones”, the band perfects this trick. The result is forty-five minutes of meticulous songcraft and dramatically contrasting passages. “Earthen” is a journey through the duality of nature itself; it builds from a calm wind to a devastating hurricane, from a tranquil beach to a tsunami. Three albums into their career, Oceanwake is a band that has finally realized and executed the full expanse of their vision, and the result in breathtaking. 

“Earthen” is available here

Band info: facebook || official

ALBUM REVIEW: Arduini / Balich - "Dawn of Ages"

By: Richard King 

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/02/2017

Label: Cruz Del Sur Music

“Dawn Of Ages” is a classic fusion of perfect doom and progressive metal. The music makes an immediate and impressive connection in your mind which boldly declares that metal mastery is at hand and that two genres are blending seamlessly together.

 “Dawn Of Ages” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. The Fallen

2. Forever Fade

3. Into Exile

4. The Wraith

5. Beyond the Barricade

6. The Gates of Acheron

7. Sunrise (Uriah Heep cover)

8. Wolf of Velvet Fortune (Beau Brummels cover)

9. After All (The Dead) (Black Sabbath cover)

The Review:

This album is the culmination of the efforts of FATES WARNING’S co-founder Victor Arduini and heavy doom legends ARGUS’ Butch Balich. In late 2013 Arduini decided to push his musical boundaries in another direction and later recruited fellow FREEDOMS REIGN musician Chris Judge to drum for what would become Arduini / Balich. Arduini was in need of a vocalist when he’d met Butch Balich, who had played shows with him.

The resulting effort in “Dawn Of Ages” is a classic fusion of perfect doom and progressive metal. The music makes an immediate and impressive connection in your mind which boldly declares that metal mastery is at hand and that two genres are blending seamlessly together. These ideas are apparent from the album’s opening minutes.

Until the record’s sixth track the album unfolds throughout songs which top the ten minute mark yet never bore or meander in the slightest. It’s clear that Arduini and company have a great deal to say musically and this venting is a thing that can be not only easily understood but greatly appreciated.  Balich’s powerful singing blends easily with Arduini’s epic guitar work in innovative ways, creating a melodically compelling and adventurous sonic picture. The unity of both genres in this work exist beyond the idea of being portioned out here and there, with only some parts sounding doomed while certain other parts launch into progressive territories. The entirety of the record is a timeless fusion of both aspects.

There is something very special in particular about “Beyond The Barricade,” the album’s fifth track. It’s the longest of a fantastic lot at seventeen plus minutes, but the way it blasts through musical motions is remarkable for its variety. Without lapsing obviously into genre blending, the track manages to convey both power metal progressions and art rock riffs in one long, doomed spectacle.

In the vinyl version of this album, which is well worth getting, you’ll be able to catch three awesome cover songs, being “After All (The Dead)”, Beau Brummel’s “Wolf Of Fortune” and Uriah Heep’s “Sunrise” which is powerful enough to be held to the original.  I think it’s in “Sunrise” that ARDUINI/BALICH begin to reach an event-making creative apex. Balich’s vocals are perfect for this cover and the organ work in this is stunning. With “Wolf Of Fortune” and in their Black Sabbath cover, they bring the purest manifestation of power doom I can imagine. In fact, the entirety of the covers portion of this record is a great indication of just where this band may go; a person could really hope to hear more in these particular classic veins from them. Regardless, the templates established by these metal veterans in their first six songs on this debut are well more than enough to build on and leave a listener very satisfied by its conclusion.

"Dawn Of Ages" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook