REVIEW: Pale Mare, "EP II"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 03/04/2020

Label: Seeing Red Recods |

Ancient Temple Recordings

“EP II” CS//DD//CD//LP track listing:

1.House Of War

2.Zealot

3.Voidgazer

4.Remains

The Review:

Finally, a punishing power trio! These three purveyors of pummelling punk infused stoner metal hail from Toronto, Canada. The frozen north is, it seems, a fertile breeding ground of riffs and noise. This is a four track EP that is nearly as long as “Reign in Blood” by Slayer, so no complaining about value for money.

Opener “House of War” is reminiscent perhaps of “Surrounded By Thieves” era High on Fire, so the band set out their stall straight away: it's heavy, dirty and pitched somewhere between early Mastodon, early High on Fire, Conan and the punkier likes of Black Tusk. “Zealot” is perhaps a little more straightforward rhythmically but is just as punishing.

“Voidgazer” is heavier still and bludgeons the listener with repetition in a style closer to sludge or modern doom. The closing nine minute opus of “Remains” is the most complex track here and it shows the band in epic mode, making use of dynamics and also paying ferociously. All told, this is a solid EP and fans of any of the comparative bands mentioned

“EP II” is available HERE

Band info: Facebook || Bandcamp

VIDEO PREMIERE: Toronto based doom duo ITUS debut "Primordial"

Toronto’s ITUS is the latest in Canadian doom featuring heavy, brooding and psychedelic tones meshed with horror-inspired sounds. They have been toiling away, working on their debut EP "Primordial" set to be released on March 13, 2020. 

Atmospheric and energetic, this album is a step in a new musical direction for the duo of Brandon Lucking and Reinier Vandenbosch, and they are encouraged that the reception for their latest endeavour will be well received.  Today at THE SLUDGELORD we are debuting the title track from their EP and band had following to say about it below 

"This is the first single from Itus. Primordial uses the idea of coming out of a euphoric bliss into a hellish existence. Its lyrics comment on what forces within people work to pull society back down to chaos. This is the most aggressive song on the EP with its crisp, and aggressive guitar tones that really make it stand out from the other songs. The constant growing and changing of the layers of guitars leading to the breakdown at the end are meant to portray an increasing sense of unrest and panic."

Band info:  Facebook

REVIEW: Six of Swords, “Regime Decay” EP

By: Richard Maw


Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 19/10/2018

Label: Independent

This record is wedded to the corpse of early to mid 90's old school DM and is all the better for it

“Regime Decay” CD//DD track listing:

1). Eye for an Eye

2). No Amnesia

3). Malodorous

4). Hunted

5). Hells Messiah

6). Hedonistic Gluttony

The Review

Six of Swords, Canada's finest death metal troupe, return with this beastly collection of six prime cuts. “Polar Vortex” was an EP release that ran surprisingly hot, reviewed on the blog a few years ago. This record has taken all elements present there and ratcheted them up a notch. 

Once again, the production is clear and powerful and the opener “Eye for an Eye” demonstrates that there is more to the band than out and out speed. The main refrain is straight out of the classic Morbid Angel playbook and the band keep things reined in tight- the expected blast never comes and instead this track is a crawling wretched beast. “No Amnesia” changes gear but not style- very pleasingly, this record is wedded to the corpse of early to mid 90's old school DM and is all the better for it.

Once again, the vocals alternate a little with lows as the main course and highs as the extra. “Malodorous” is a fetid exhalation of doomy breath, but the band also switches up to much faster pacing here as well. Excellent lead work and unexpected dynamics come up for air here too- great track. “Hunted” continues the tar-thick vibes and brings with it an Entombed-esque rhythmic approach.

“Hells Messiah” and “Hedonistic Gluttony” continue with some Euro/Swe-Death flourishes and it is clear that SOS have built upon the great “Polar Vortex” to hone and expand their sound. There are some great riffs here, some great leads, an excellent production and nothing that goes too over the top- no endless blasting, no pointless tracks that go nowhere. This is a focused and lean release that I heartily recommend to fans of any band mentioned in this review.

“Regime Decay” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riff of Canada with Holy Grinder (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 02/03/2018

Label: Independent

 This is a modern grind record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and is a step forward in an often stagnant metal subgenre.

“Cult of Extermination” DD track listing:

1). Bootlicker (1:03)

2). Tomb of Disgust (1:56)

3). Bile Overdose (0:34)

4). End Terror (0:45)

5). Infinite Knife (0:26)

6). Secret Scum (1:14)

7). Violent Death (0:39)

8). Grave Dog (0:29)

9). Noise V (0:42)

10). Cult of Extermination (2:52)

11). False Grinder (2:26)

The Review:

Holy Grinder’s debut record, “Cult of Extermination”, is a welcome addition into the world of grindcore. With its incorporation of death metal, industrial music and noise, “Cult of Extermination” is a new classic in the canon of grindcore.

The album wastes no time in getting into the blasts beats with “Tomb of Disgust” and “Bile Overdose”. From there, the record jumps element to element, and employs something new once the listener gets comfortable in a particular sound. Whether it is the technical bass leads of “Infinite Knife” and “Grave Dog”, to the strangled noise of “Noise V” and “Secret Scum”, or the industrial hardcore vibes on “Cult of Extermination”, the listener is never quite sure what to expect from Holy Grinder.

On the surface, this is a raw as hell grindcore record that references many of the genre’s forefathers, but has so many nuances to it after multiple listens. This is a modern grind record that doesn’t overstay its welcome, and is a step forward in an often stagnant metal subgenre.

“Cult of Extermination” is available here

Band info: Bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Thantifaxath (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/11/2017

Label: Dark Descent Records

“Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Oceans of Screaming Spheres

2). Self Devouring – Womb

3). Cursed Numbers

4). Void Masquerading as Matter

The Review:

Toronto’s secretive black metal super group re-emerge with a 35 minute dissent into dizzying madness. Thantifaxath’s new record, “Void Masquerading as Matter”, takes the foundation of black metal, and pushes it into the furthest reaches of the genre. For those looking for innovation in the black metal genre, look no further than this record.  Taking off right where “Sacred White Noise” left off, Thantifaxath come barrelling out of the gate with blast beats and tremolo picking on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”.  After a minute and half, however, is where Thantifaxath come into form. Most of the songs start out as a form of black metal, and then morph into another form of experimental dark music. Whether it’s the use of piano on “Oceans of Screaming Spheres”, static noise and strings on “Self Devouring - Womb”, or chamber vocals on “Void Masquerading as Matter”, there is always an element of Thantifaxath pushing the envelope forward.

The music has what is best described as a “slippery” quality to it. With constant ascending and descending pitch and scales, nothing feels stationary on this record. This gives the music a living and organic quality rarely found on today’s robotically precise production methods. “Cursed Numbers” is the best example of this. This song contains the most un-black metal feature possible; a guitar-tapping sequence. This sequence is fluid, and yet never finds the down beat of one. The melody of the song creates an illusion that it is constantly ascending without ever having to come down. “Void Masquerading as Matter” reaches far beyond the realm of black metal, and into a sound truly of its own. For anyone looking for black metal moving in a progressive direction, this record is a must.

“Void Masquerading as Matter” is available  here

Band info: bandcamp

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Pale Mare (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 10/11/2017

Label: Medusa Crush Recordings

For those of you who long for the days of “Blessed Black Wings” era High on Fire, this record is the perfect trip down memory-lane.  If you dig thick and dirty riffs, you’ll dig Pale Mare.

“Pale Mare EP” CS//DD track listing:

1). Descolada

2). Carthage

3). Hoplite

The Review:

Toronto’s Pale Mare has finally released their long awaited self-titled EP. After making a name for themselves locally opening for acts such as Windhand and Weedeater, Pale Mare have unleashed their well-honed brand of sludge metal. For those of you who long for the days of “Blessed Black Wings” era High on Fire, this record is the perfect trip down memory-lane.

The EP comes out of the gate swinging with “Descolada”; a song built upon a heavy riff that would make Matt Pike smile. Where Pale Mare break from the pack, however, is this jazz break they’ve fused into the middle of the song. The clean shimmering guitar chords and wah-tinged bass give them a nuisance and balance not often found in riff-driven music.

 “Carthage” is a straight out banger that page homage to early Baroness EP’s “First” and “Second” while adding their own twists. Luke Roberts’ drum fills on this track are particularly jaw-dropping. Given the fact that he is also the guitarist and main creative force behind Ayahuasca, it begs the question “Is there anything Luke Roberts can’t do?”.

The albums closer “Hoplite” is continuation of all these elements mashed together in one riff-crammed magnum opus. Pale Mare is a throwback to the hey-day of the Savannah sludge metal of the early 2000s, only with a twist. If you dig thick and dirty riffs, you’ll dig Pale Mare.

“Pale Mare EP” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FOR THOSE ABOOT TO ROCK: Riffs of Canada with Speaker (Toronto, Ontario)

By: Mark Tremblay

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 10//11/2017

Label: Independent

Toronto’s best kept secret come into their own on this release, showcasing the 'core noise they have mastered, as well as incorporating new sounds into their wheel-house.

“Murder and Create” DD track listing:

1). Plaster

2). Bleach

3). Catch 22

4). Conscious Sleep

5). Cocoon

6). Eve

The Review:

Toronto’s best kept secret in metal and hardcore start to come into their own with the release of their new EP “Murder and Create”. The EP showcases the refined metalcore that Speaker has mastered, as well as new sounds that they are incorporating into their wheel-house.

The first half of the EP showcases a master class in metallic hardcore. Songs like “Plaster”,” Bleach”, and “Catch 22” flex a unique versatility in frenetic energy and dissonant guitars. The stop and turn nature of these tracks maximizes the weight of the riffs, and keeps the listener on their feet. The second half of the EP is where we hear the band reach into new territory. “Conscious Sleep” and “Eve” see the band going for more of a Gaza/Cult Leader approach; trading in their hardcore roots for a more atmospheric and doom-laden approach to heavy music.

While not everything lands perfectly on this record, it is great to see Speaker flex their creative muscles, and venture out into new territory. It will be great to see what happens next for the band.

“Murder and Create” is available here

Band info: Facebook || bandcamp