ALBUM REVIEW: Sightless Pit, "Grave of a Dog"

By: Josh McIntyre

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 21/02/2020

Label: Thrill Jockey

“Grave of a Dog” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Kingscorpse
2. Immersion Dispersal
3. The Ocean Of Mercy
4. Violent Rain
5. Drunk On Marrow
6. Miles Of Chain
7. Whom The Devil Long Sought To Strangle
8. Love is Dead, All Love Is Dead

The Review:

This is not a metal album. That does not, however, make it any less heavy or nasty sounding. Sightless Pit consists of Lee Buford (The Body), Kristin Hayter (Lingua Ignota), and Dylan Walker (Full of Hell) and it is a deep exploration of the more electronic elements of each project’s respective sound. All three artists have been at the forefront of underground heavy music for years now and I would argue that this success has been aided by this shared interest in adding sampled effects, drum machine beats, and other sounds that really sets them apart from other sludge, grindcore, and noise musicians. There’s also the fact that these artists already have a bond as they have consistently toured together and collaborated. “Grave of a Dog” is the result of a strong chemistry between three artists leaning on each other to discover exciting possibilities with the music that they create. 

So the existence of Sightless Pit comes as no surprise to fans. Once the first song dropped on the public (“Kingscorpse”) I saw comparisons to the previous Full of Hell/The Body albums being made online, oftentimes with a sense of disappointment that new ideas weren’t apparent. Thankfully, these predictions are very wrong. One only needs to proceed to track two to see that this is a unique record. Every song has its own character, by far more so than most albums. Drum loops range from hip-hop grooves to militaristic and harsh. Layers of piano, synth, and distortion guide the album and give songs their melodic purpose. Dylan and Kristin both perform vocals throughout, adding their own timbres to already complex layers of sound. One of the most interesting parts is when autotune is added to Kristin’s melismatic singing in “Violent Rain”, somehow making it sound even more emotional in a fashion that recalls Kanye West’s outro in “Runaway”.

As mentioned, all of these elements have been present in each members’ primary project to a degree but it’s the focus on them here that makes “Grave of a Dog” such a fascinating record. I can’t help but compare it to a zombified Portishead or Burial. They’ve been murdered, dug into the ground, and resurrected as horrifying and scarred bastards. This isn’t just in the crackled sounds, its emotion reeks of mournfulness and dread. Even the screams have a strong sense of sadness, if not desperation, in them. There isn’t a single sign of light to be seen and sometimes it’s raining. It’s truly cinematic. It feels like a film where a zombie is brought back to enact vengeance on its killer but ends up still feeling empty in a very human way. The titles certainly help to bring this to mind. 

My guess is that the three were chatting one day and simply decided to make a record between them as more of a fun thing to do rather than to make some flashy supergroup display. Whatever the case may be, “Grave of a Dog” is a phenomenal and thought-provoking project. It can easily compete with the various albums released between the trio’s other works. The difference is that there are no riffs here.

Similarities are more abound to Tim Hecker’s “Virgins” and Portishead’s “Third” than anything metal or punk. I adore it all the more because of this.

“Grave of a Dog” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp

REVIEW: Dripback, "Blessed With Less Than Nothing"

By: Richard Maw


Album Type: EP

Date Released: 20/03/2020

Label: 4 Family Records  

 

“Blessed With Less Than Nothing” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Blessed With Less Than Nothing

2). Forked Tongues

3). Lack of Substance

4). Mouths Sewn Shut

5). Altered State of Consciousness

The Review:

Dripback may have been away for some time, but for those that heard them releases such as “Inhaling The Ashes” are not easily forgotten! With frontman Wez now residing abroad, the chances for the band to get together are less than they were, but they have managed to put together five incredibly potent tracks here on this short sharp and nasty EP.

The title track is the first of five and sees the band tilling the fertile soil made up of a mixture of hardcore/grind/thrash/death and any other extreme genre that fits. There's more than a touch of old school NYHC in the sound too- it reminded me of Agnostic Front at their best or even Sick of it All. The punk influences are loud and proud in “Forked Tongues “too. It's fast and furious and definitely not made for commercial reasons.

As “Lack of Substance” lashes out of the speakers, it becomes apparent that the band remain focused and powerful without having compromised on song structure or arrangement. There's nothing here under two minutes long and there are plenty of riffs and twists and turns throughout each track. “Mouths Sewn Shut” is as menacing as the title suggests with lots of aggro present in the music and vocals. “Altered States of Consciousness” finishes this evil EP in grand style.

Over the course of the five tracks, the band punches the listener repeatedly with heavy hits and low blows- it will keep you guessing and keep you engaged. If you are a fan of Nasum this will suit you just as much as if you are a fan of Poison Idea. Highly recommended.

“Blessed With Less Than Nothing” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Mondo Generator, "Shooters Bible"

By: Peter Morsellino

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 28/02/2020

Label: Heavy Psych Sounds Records

“Shooter’s Bible” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Dead Silence
2. Invisible Like the sky
3. Burn a Bridge
4. Won’t Let Go
5. Central Nervous System High (School)
6. This Isn’t Love
7. We Are Mondo Generator
8. Smashed Apart
9. Dog Food
10. Night Calls
11. Hang Me High
12. The Way I Let You Down
13. The Last Train

The Review: 

Here it is folks, the moment you've all be waiting for. The long lost “Shooter's Bible” by Desert Rock mainstays Mondo Generator. Three words: Worth The Wait.

Now while we have heard many of these songs reworked and rerecorded on 2012's “Hell Comes to Your Heart”, it is immediately apparent that this is a different animal entirely. A dirtier, angrier, much more dangerous animal. This is rock and roll as it was meant to be heard.

Now, I'm not one of those people who feels the need to deride something for sounding good. I personally always found the notion silly. There were a million reasons to take these songs and polish them into what we heard on “Hell Comes to Your Heart”. Tastes change. Maybe the draw of commercial appeal was too hard to exist. “Hell Comes Your to Heart” doesn't suffer for sounding as good as it does. Not one bit.

What we have here on “Shooter's Bible”, though, is raw and uncut, unpolished and magical. Those songs that you loved on “Hell Comes to Your Heart” now stand before you naked, dripping in afterbirth and screaming. It's natural. I believe this to be what Nick Oliveri's head sounds like. We even have the gritty cover of Iggy Pop's "Dog Food" back on the album proper (a track that I can't neglect to note features the drum work of a very talented young upstart by the name of Dave Grohl). This is the way the album was conceived, the way it was meant to be heard, reminiscent of the deluxe edition of Sublime's self titled, but with so much more to offer.

Once again, none of this makes “Hell Comes to Your Heart” a bad album. It's just a different take.  I for one am glad to have both albums. To compare and contrast. To hear the evolution.

No doubt, this release will prove to be divisive amongst hardcore Mondo Generator fans. But either as a peek into the history of what could have been or as a damn fine gritty rock and roll record on its own, it deserves a listen at the very least.

“Shooter’s Bible” is available HERE

Band info: facebook

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

ALBUM REVIEW: Seven Planets, "Explorer"

By: Peter Morsellino 

Album Type: Full Length  Date Released: 07/02/2020 

Label: Small Stone Records 

“Explorer” CD//DD//LP track listing: 

1). Vanguard 

2). Plain Truth in a Homespun Dress 

3). Explorer 

4). 206 

5). Seven Seas 

6). Great Attractor 

7). Grissom 

8). The Buzzard 

The Review: 

Light em up if you got em, folks, we're going for a ride. 

Is been eight long years since the last album by these West Virginian kings of the Acid Blues, but it is immediately apparent upon starting this bad boy up that Seven Planets has accumulated absolutely no rust. In only a touch over 35 minutes, this album takes you on a tour of the galaxy, leaving no stone unturned in their search for badass stoner jams and crushing riffs. 

If there is one thing that is very clear when it comes to this release, it is that Seven Planets has not been sitting around for these past eight years. Taking time off to fight personal battles (guitarist Leonard Hanks' cancer diagnosis, for one) did not mean that the music was placed on the shelf. There is a very real feeling of release to this album. These sounds have been bouncing around these guys' heads for the past eight years and now that it has been released into the world, there is nothing that can stop it. 

Continuing and expanding upon the path laid out by their previous albums, “Explorer” is a groove laden trek through the furthest reaches of Stoner Rock. The beats hit hard, the atmospheres are far out and the jams hit right in the sweet spot to take the listener to outer space before bringing them back down to earth with some balls out fist in the air riffage. It's a goddamn good time. 

And that is really the undeniable fact about this album. It's just so much fun. Seven Planets could have come back from an eight year hiatus with a chip on their shoulder and laid down some angry trudging riffs and in all honesty it probably would have been awesome. But instead they have conquered their demons and released an album of triumphant joy. 

This is a band that has gone through hell and returned to show us not only that hell, but the beauty that they've encountered on their way there and back. If you're looking for some fantastic acid grooves and progressive blues jams then this is the album for you. 

“Explorer” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook 

ALBUM REVIEW: Servant of the Mist, "Healing Process"

By: Richard Murray

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 17/01/2020

Label: No Friends

“Healing Process” DD track listing:

1). Tragic Labyrinths

2). Lips of Shit

3). Reflections

4). Healing Process

5). Solace

6). For Days on End

7). The Anniversary Effect

8). Uninvited

The Review:

Has there been a void in you sludge fan? A void of truly wanting, no, needing to know what Primitive Man would sound like while clashing with Dragged into Sunlight, perhaps? Then keep reading. A void needing blood curdling screams and guitars that sounds like they’re being played by Quaalude addicts with extreme anger problems? Then keep reading. 

Servant of the Mist takes on all genres of extreme. Over its runtime, and in this order, we hear their takes on doom, funeral doom and sludge all with depressive black metal style vocals. They’ve been teasing us since 2013’s single “Daydreamer”. The three track EP entitled “Suicide Sex Pact” and four track EP “Gross Knowledge of Genital Mutilation” followed in the year 2013, and 2014, respectfully. And then they lay dormant for six long years until 2020’s “Healing Process” LP brought them out of hibernation. All of that time I have to imagine members spent bound to chairs in opium dens only to be let out to fight the alligators bare handed in their native Florida for food. I might think of extreme metal bands as roaming vagabonds who live in a kill or be killed environment. But it’s more fun that way, I promise. 

Splitting up each individual aspect seems pointless. Not because of one aspect lacking. But because each note, each shriek, each monstrous beating of the drum blends in so well it seem impossible to isolate any one part being non essential. With that said let’s still give credit where credit is due. Ed Tobar and Ryan Blackman exchange and entangle in the guitar, Evan Schaaf keeps things gelled together on bass, Robyn Holley detonates precision on drums, and Richard Smyth Jr. writes every lyric and summons demons on vocals. 

The doom segment begins everything with the sombre “Tragic Labyrinths”. A lonely guitar playing Indian inspired blues until the crushing drums and rib vibrating singing engulf all of existence. Each segment seems eternal and vast like everything was recorded in an echo chamber with each sound being brought back more distorted then before. Hypnotic “Lips of Shit” is a diminished fifth haven, as simple as that. You’ve got eleven minutes of indescribable torture of auditory hell. The funeral doom segment starts with “Reflections” and continues to “Healing Process” where we have something of a feat. Something I’ve never heard before.

Servants of the Mist contribution to funeral doom with shorter song lengths. This is interesting for fans of Bell Witch or Skepticism. These songs total to nine minutes but accomplish so much with so little time, so not a bad thing at all. Almost like instead of drawing something out as long as anyone could possibly stand they’re instead opting for how creative they can be by saying just as much with half the time. A much needed cool down moment in the instrumental until the bands sludge soaked nightmares takes complete hold on “For Days on End” that grips you with “The Anniversary Effect” until “Uninvited” fades out. This makes a fantasy in my mind of avenging any naysayers with magical powers I’ve furnished from my evil inner being. Even though I’m just sitting on my couch drinking mineral water and playing with my cats. 

I’ve never heard three of the most sinister genres all on display so vividly before. Servants of the Mist have shown me that they can lead a hate fueled vessel I’ve be revisiting often. 

“Healing Process” is available HERE

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Sylosis, "Cycle of Suffering"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 07/02/2020

Label: Nuclear Blast

 

“Cycle of Suffering” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Empty Prophets
2. I Sever
3. Cycle of Suffering
4. Shield
5. Calcified
6. Invidia
7. Idle Hands
8. Apex of Disdain
9. Arms Like A Noose
10. Devils In Their Eyes
11. Disintegrate
12. Abandon

The Review:

Sylosis return with this full length a full five years after the last album! It's hard to believe that the excellent “Dormant Heart” is that old, but it is. In that time, it's not strictly true to say that the metal genre has changed- things have kept moving along nicely- but do Sylosis now sound like old hat? The answer, as soon as “Empty Prophets” kicks off is a resounding “NO.”

The band, in case you have never heard them, are British and fit firmly into the modern metal genre of thrash crossed with melodic death- some synths, lots of hardcore-esque breakdowns etc. To describe them would be to say that they sit somewhere between Stampin' Ground (late era), Hatebreed, God Forbid and Lamb of God.

The playing is beyond reproach- listen to the lock-tight precision of “I Sever” for proof. Through headphones, the sound is more textured than it might first appear; there are synths throughout lots of the music here adding depth to the sound and an extra dimension. The drums are undoubtedly triggered/sound replaced- how you feel about that trait may determine your feelings towards the production generally. Certainly, this kind of clarity and quality would have been impossible for a band of Sylosis' size twenty years ago. Now, it's if not commonplace... almost expected.

With pro-tools or similar firmly in effect, the band sound machine like and incredibly powerful. There are great riffs and passages of music throughout the likes of “Cycle of Suffering” and “Shield”. It's heavy stuff- like Hatebreed rumbling with At The Gates and the more angular guitar work on “Calcified” goes some way to distinguish the band from the myriad of others who have ploughed a similar furrow. The chorus is a little clumsy, but over the course of the twelve tracks, there is more than enough fury on offer to offset any of the more cliched moments that occasionally pop up. “Invidia” is another example of a track with a rather clumsy anthemic chorus section, but I'm really splitting hairs here.

For all that there may be a few seconds of a couple of tracks that I don't care for, there are whole tracks like “Idle Hands” which are superb. “Apex of Disdain” is also a meaty example of the fact that if Machine Head had made this album instead of what they actually made last time around, then they would have been lauded as returning heroes. The moody “Arms Like A Noose” uses a good change of pace for the intro and then mutates into an album stand out; the guitar work is excellent, as is every aspect of the track. Superb stuff.

“Devils In Their Eyes” blends melody with aggression very effectively and is a fine example of the band getting the combination just right. The final two tracks see the band take a darker turn- “Disintegrate” is a riff-fest brimming with energy while on “Abandon” Sylosis spread their wings a little with clean singing, acoustic guitars, prevalent synths and a playing time of over six minutes. It's closer to Alter Bridge and Shadows Fall and it caps off a very good record in fine style.

Whether this will see Sylosis get their just desserts and climb the metal tree, I don’t know. Certainly, all the ingredients are there- from the state of the art production to the mixture of viciousness and restraint the band do nothing wrong and have turned in another excellent modern metal record. It's better than the most recent albums by any number of bands- some of whom are mentioned above. If there's any justice, you'll be seeing Sylosis in an Academy size venue near you soon.

“Cycle of Suffering” is available HERE



 Band info: facebook