RIFF REWIND (24/06/2013): Reproacher - "Nothing To Save"

Reproacher began in late 2009 in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Formed from the remnants of dissolved local bands, Joel joined TJ and Jarret and produced two demos in 2010. Jon joined in late 2010 and the band began writing and touring more seriously. After a handful of shows in March 2011, Reproacher travelled to Salt Lake City to record a self-titled album with Andy Patterson, which was self-released. The band did two west coast tours with defunct Denver grinders Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire and Death Of Self. Reproacher would later record a Tour Demo in October of 2011 with Patterson once again which was released via Dimlight Records. In the summer of 2012, Reproacher drove coast to coast in a 38-day US tour

“Nothing to Save” their second full length dropped in June 2013 and the band’s misanthropic sophomore release delivered 11 merciless tracks of metallic hardcore mixed with rumbling blasts of low-end vocal snarls. “Nothing to Save” was recorded in 4 days during January 2013 in Salt Lake City by Andy Patterson (Gaza, Call of the Void). 

Fast forward three years and split 7 later, Reproacher would return with their third full length, “Nature’s Bastard” an album where huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape and their ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest.”Nature’s Bastard” is a mighty offering, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics, but today we’re rewind the clock 4 years to the day and revisiting an album that exposed THE SLUDGELORD to this amazing band, a band you’d be a fool to miss second time around.  So if you missed it the first time, be sure to remedy you error by checking out our review of “Nothing to Save” in full below. Reproacher breeds hate and disease through sonic decimation. 

By: Richard Powley

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 11/06/2013

Label: Self Released

“Nothing to Save” is a remarkable album, marrying grind, crust, sludge and hardcore, yet never failing to provide anything other than caustic forward momentum. The inclusion of more subdued moments adds wonderfully to the emotional weight of the lyrics whilst also giving the record great replay value. Basically it rules.

“Nothing to Save” DD track listing:

1. Intro
2. Casemate
3. Sophists
4. Averse Arrest
5. Ballast
6. Marginal Being
7. Repose
8. The Champion is Fucked
9. A New Dark Age
10. Crippled Wolves
11. New Skin

The Review:

I’m going to go ahead and admit I had never heard of Cheyenne, WY’s Reproacher before receiving “Nothing to Save” to review.

I am now a massive fan of Cheyenne, WY’s Reproacher.

“Nothing to Save” contains 11 crusty, sludge fuelled hardcore tracks, overflowing with bile and rage. The fact that Reproacher wouldn’t sound out of place on a bill with Cursed, Full of Hell, Baptists et al is big praise indeed, but one the band wholeheartedly deserves with this release.

As soon as Intro’s pummelling build up is complete, Reproacher lurch into “Casemate”, complete with Colohan-esque distorted vocals, short grind bursts, dissonant breaks and a propulsive tempo, with the latter three setting the band apart from the many Cursed copyists formed in their wake. Further across the first part of the album, Reproacher fuse elements of d-beat, sludge, hardcore and Converge style tempo changes and dissonance into a disgustingly cohesive whole.   

With “Ballast”, the band has crafted a perfect centrepiece to the album. Slowing things down ever so slightly and giving more emotional weight to the bleak and desolate lyrical content, the track ends with a plaintive, mournful riff bringing the first half of the album to a suitably grim climax.

“Marginal Being”’s downtempo, doomy intro belies the tracks surge into furious hardcore, whilst “The Champion is Fucked” tells of the treachery often born of greed and ambition over a furious amalgam of grind and d-beat hardcore. “Nothing to Save” closes with “New Skin”, opening with a slow feedback laden riff that wouldn’t sound out of place coming from Manatees, before settling into a calmer passage that’s ends the record in an unexpectedly thought provoking manner.

“Nothing to Save” is a remarkable album, marrying grind, crust, sludge and hardcore, yet never failing to provide anything other than caustic forward momentum. The inclusion of more subdued moments adds wonderfully to the emotional weight of the lyrics whilst also giving the record great replay value. Basically it rules.

Band info: Bandcamp || Facebook

The Sludgelord "Sour 16 for July 2016

By: Aaron Pickford

As we talk stock at The Sludgelord, that we achieved the milestone of publishing 4000 articles and over 2000 album reviews this week (n.b. Steve Howe’s contributions cannot be understated), our commitment to offer you many more magnificent riffs is unwavering, therefore it is time cast our minds back upon the month of July and digest the 16 albums that would become July’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 July, 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 and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in red)

16). Graves At Sea – “The Curse That Is” (303)

The album opener and title track drops the anchor to establish the length, tone and rhythm this 76 minute voyage is about. An unpredictable, violent haze of amplifier worship, “The Curse That Is” is a strong candidate for one of the top 10 albums of 2016.

15). The Human Condition – “Pathways” (308)

This is a classy album, full of doom and melancholy. The band are great live and boasts some of the North West's most enduring doom talent from such luminaries as Unsilence, for instance. The band play a blinder throughout and front man Nathan Harrison really captures the feeling of powerlessness so prevalent in the lyrics and themes here. Harrowing stuff indeed.

14). The Order of Israfel – “Red Robes” (330)

Titled "Red Robes," their sophomore album is a crushing slab of classic doom. Twin guitar harmonies permeate the arrangements; slow, lumbering beats intermingle with high-energy, uptempo passages; stark vocals deliver creep out lyrics; all in support of their almighty neck breaking riffs.

13). Wytch Hazel – “Prelude” (343)

If you have any interest in Tull, Ash, Lizzy, Sabbath et al and yearn for a band to come along and play like those heroes of a bygone era, Wytch Hazel are definitely worth your time and money. They are a great band and one that is doing something unique- out are occult tropes and devil-ish imagery, in are song-writing, medieval sonics/themes and enthusiasm rather than cynicism. A triumphant record on every level.

12). Bleak – “No Light No Tunnel” (350)

From the jagged intro of “Teeth” to the guttural barks that bring “Fuck Your God” to a close, Bleak do not let up for a second. Every track here is a potent blend of Converge’s nastiest moments and the crushing attack of Coalesce brewed in a vat of filthy, thick sludge.  “No Light No Tunnel” is not pretty but makes for a horribly captivating listen. Few records this year will match the vitriolic onslaught Bleak deliver here.

11). Adolyne – “Of Ash/Of Shit/Of Shame” (363)

The whole album feels like it’s teetering on the edge of collapse which lends a real thrill and urgency to proceedings. This is felt most strongly during epic closer “Brawler’s Fracture”. Intense, restless riffing akin to Keelhaul is swallowed by a buzzing swarm of squealing guitars that threaten to consume all. Just before chaos fully descends, the track breaks into a crushing slow-motion finale.  “Of Ash/Of Shit/Of Shame” is a skilfully constructed visceral journey. Adolyne create a unique noise, a captivating damaged racket that will enrapture those with a taste for uneasy listening.

10). Wo Fat – “Midnight Coment” (400)

Stoner, psychedelia, doom and classic rock all coalesce here with massive results. Only one track under five minutes, the rest sprawling languidly well over that mark. Hendrix jamming with Fu Manchu and Sabbath¸ simply put, this is storming stuff; wrought from the heaviest of iron and the lightest of air. Massive.

9). Ghold – “PYR” (444)

“PYR” is an exceptional release from Ghold that really cements their position as the finest heavy act in the UK right now. It is the sound of a band who exist in a world of their own, above and beyond our plane of existence and drifting ever closer to the outer limits.

8). Reproacher – “Nature’s Bastard” (475)

Huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape, their ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest.  This is a mighty offering, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics.

7). Cough – “Still They Pray” (507)

6). Solothus – “No King Reigns Eternal” (748)

An encompassing album with an unforgiving heaviness, "No King Reigns Eternal" sees Finns Solothus’ improve on their debut album, and release one of the heaviest doom releases so far this year. Instilled with death metal elements and no signs of calm, it is a harrowing album full of weighty monolithic riffs and a murky atmosphere.

5). Wormed – “Krighsu” (953)

Krighsu’ is ten tracks of unrelenting tech-death, set at a warp speed that has no intention of ever slowing down.  Space is infinite, and it seems WORMED’s ability to create jaw-breakingly heavy music is just as vast.

4). Cold World – “Autumn” (1033)

Börner writes and creates music that should appeal to both purist and tourist alike. Not because he haphazardly smashes the pieces into each other, like a child with their toys, but because his instincts and strengths do so organically.  “Autumn’ is flush with atmosphere and overall is a cohesive and brilliant listening experience.

3). Wretch – “Wretch” (1877)

This is a fine debut and a much needed shot of trad doom, with actual songs, - in an era of obsession with amps and pedals (but without, you know, actual songs and stuff). It is a triumph for this intrepid trio and surely there are great things to come for the band. Make no mistake, Wretch are here and Wretch will bring you real doom or throw you out of the bar if you don't like it.

2). Periphery – “Periphery III: Select Difficulty” (2009)

Experimental metal bands like Periphery will (hopefully) never settle for sticking to one particular groove.  Constantly innovating, this adds to “Juggernaut”, jumping off from that platform and diving into dark, unexplored depths.  Music should surprise and inspire, and “Periphery III: Select Difficulty” does both with eye-opening results.  Just watch out for unexpected face-melting, okay?

1). Dunsmuir – “Dunsmuir” (2021)

Dunsmuir, manages the uncanny trick of amounting to the sum of its parts. The record's players have some serious pedigree and none if it is wasted. Vinny Appice is as powerful as ever, with a beastly snare sound, while Bone and Davis are a formidable strings team. Fallon puts in a hardworking and uniformly stellar shift as per usual.  Simply put, if you like Clutch and Dio-era Sabbath, you will be right at home here. If you are a fan of Fu Manchu, there are sounds for you here as well. This album rocks, it’s that simple.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  February’s “Sour 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Daniel Jackson, George Parr, Charlie Butler, Chris Markwell, Doza Hawes  & Gerardo Pacheco

Reproacher - "Nature's Bastard" (Album Review)

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 03/06/2016
Label: Crown & Throne Ltd

Huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape, their ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest.  This is a mighty offering, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics.

“Nature’s Bastard” DD//LP track listing:

1). Intro

2). Celestial Blackout

3). Poisonous Miasmas

4). Garotte

5). Sundown

6). The Endless Tide

7). Futility

8). Old Blue Clay

9). Nature’s Bastard

10). The Great Equalizer

The Review:

“Celestial Blackout”, the second track of Reproacher’s new LP “Nature’s Bastard”, provides an apt description of the widescreen carnage they deliver. The track roars into life out of the smouldering ashes of “Intro”, a perfect hybrid of brooding post metal and furious, Hydra Head-style noisecore. The Wyoming bruisers mine this seam of inspiration for untold riches over the course of the album to create their distinct visceral sound.

Reproacher’s music is based on a solid foundation of gnarly noise rock heaviness but the tone shifts as the record progresses. The opening double whammy gives way to the harder edged likes of “Poisonous Miasmas” and “Garrote”. Huge, awkward riffs dominate the landscape, teeth-shaking low end and piercing high end squalls combining to emulate the punishing broken grooves of Coalesce. The tempo increases during the album’s mid-section dominated by the furious d-beat of “Sundown”. The ugly, discordant racket is reminiscent of Converge at their nastiest and peaks with a wild, adrenaline-soaked lead guitar break.

As the end approaches, the mood darkens. The title track is the closest Reproacher get to something resembling a ballad. Although the volume is dialled back and the vocals are subdued to a faraway, half-spoken drawl, the slow-burning menace exuded here is as heavy as their full-on attack. This makes the bludgeoning climax all the more crushing when it finally arrives with grim inevitability. “The Great Equalizer” continues this trajectory, falling away to near silence in the middle and building to a powerfully restrained climax, woozy chords ringing out as the band grind to a halt like a drunken cowboy.

“Nature’s Bastard” is a mighty offering from Reproacher, a captivating combination of savage intensity and considered dynamics.  

“Nature’s Bastard” is available here

Band info: bandcamp