ALBUM REVIEW: Neurosis - "Fires Within Fires"

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 23/09/2016
Label: Neurot Recordings

“Fires Within Fires” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Bending Light

2). A Shadow Memory

3). Fire is the End Lesson

4). Broken Ground

5). Reach

The Review:

Neurosis are celebrating being a band for 30 years and what better way to celebrate than a new album? It's no secret that I fucking love this band. 'Through Silver In Blood' and 'Times of Grace' opened my mind to the possibilities of musical and sonic exploration and many of my epiphanies have been soundtracked by their extensive back catalog.

Ok, let's get one thing straight; Neurosis will never make another of the aforementioned albums, so stop comparing every album to them! Neurosis are a band that are constantly evolving, each album is a point on a serpentine time line, 'Fires Within Fires' is the band's 11th studio album (12th if you count the album they recorded Jarboe) and they waste no time in dishing out the meaty slabs on opening track 'Bending Light', a few moments of calm permeate the atypically monstrous Scott Kelly penned riffs.

Kelly's voice, one of the most distinctive and powerful in all of music, carries the track, direct and with a clear mission; complete destruction of biblical proportions. "Peeling skin away, reveals the heart" scream Kelly and Co vocalist/guitarist Steve Von Till, themes of the elements, the mind, the soul and the body are always explored on a Neurosis record and the point is hammered home here. Softly, the noise and beautiful clean guitars of 'A Shadow Memory', definitely a Von Till song idea, will furrow inside your brain and cleanse your spirit, then the heaviness hits and Von Till gives us his impeccable gruff, melodic bellow while the songs central harmony, understated in it's simplicity, washes over you in waves of brilliance. The contributions of Noah Landis on keys/synths/samples is no less important than on 'Honour Found In Decay' but lies a little deeper in the mix, allowing for the guitars (a few new pedals being used maybe?) to come to the forefront. Landis' weapons of choice become more prominent on 'Fire Is The End Lesson', shimmering and floating around the guitars like a swarm of gravity defying bees and when the heavy riff kicks in around the 3.30 mark it's impossible not to be reminded of all those epically crushing moments throughout their career.

 'Broken Ground' begins with some more top notch sample work from Landis before the clean riffing, with the kind of string bend we've come to know and love from Neurosis, sets the moody tone, backed by Jason Roeder's no nonsense approach to rhythm. Lyrics of burning wood, stones and seeking the sun embraces the music in Steve Von Till's ever improving singing voice...then we get the heaviness again and it's Neurosis in their soul smashing purest form. At the tail end the album is 'Reach', if you were to look at a line graph of all past Neurosis albums to define songs; this would fall where “Souls At Zero” and “The Eye of Every Storm” meet. Chorus laden guitars and the 'tape rewinding' sounds dance around the rhythm laid down by Roeder and bassist Dave Edwardson. "They'll never see all that we see. Trust in blood. Live in waters..." sing Kelly and Von Till sorrowfully during the quieter parts. The song breaks off into minimalist, ambient territory for a while...and then the heavy part. The first time I heard it, I got goosebumps. Each subsequent listen yielded the same result. What better way to end the album than with all guns blazing and Scott Kelly roaring away.

Neurosis seem to redefine themselves each decade; in the 80's they were pissed off, aggressive but had your best interests at heart. In the 90's, they progressed to become a thought provoking, godlike beast, creating 4 albums which influenced hundreds of bands and which still stand out in today's musical landscape. In the 00's, they were more reflective and organic, using clean singing and ambient parts. As this decade has yet to close, it's difficult to define what Neurosis are...but herein lies their beauty; you define who and what they are to you. After 30 years, these guys know what needs to go into a Neurosis record and will continue to do so until the music is finished with them.

“Fire Within Fires” is available here

Band info: official || facebook

TRACK PREMIERE: Florida's Junior Bruce unleash the might of the Mjolnir with track "Lapis Philosophorum"

 

Formed in 2007 and rising like a phoenix from the ashes of notable Floridian heavyweights Bloodlet, the sludge/stoner metal gods of Asgard forged a new warrior, the five piece rock juggernaut Junior Bruce.   

 

On October 31st 2016 Junior Bruce will release their new album “Endless Descent” via A389 Recordings. The album, which will be their first full-length since their 2012 debut “The Headless King”, sees the band take their sound to a  whole new level and as a result, the band has created one of the best heavy albums of 2016.

 

Vocalist Scott Angelacos commented that the album's concept is based on "one persons struggle to rescue their one love from the depths of the abyss. In their attempts to open a gateway to the underworld they unwittingly set free upon the earth legions of demons and beasts that ultimately consumes not only their soul, but all of humanity."

Whilst the influence of certain bands may be apparent to some, the delivery of their brand of sludgy rock ‘n roll is uniquely devastating.  Today at The Sludgelord, we are stoked to unleash the first bludgeoning blow from the might of Junior Bruce’s Mjolnir in the form of the track “Lapis Philosophorum” which you can check out below.  The album is available to pre-order here



Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Giraffe Tongue Orchestra - "Broken Lines"

 By: Phil Weller

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 232/09/2016

Label: Party Smasher Inc ||

Cooking Vinyl

Giraffe Tongue Orchestra have forged a sound that is unlike any other and more than just the sum of all its parts.  “Broken Lines” is, in all, diverse and thrilling and one of the most unpredictable records you’ll hear all year.

“Broken Lines” CD//DD track listing:

1). Adapt Or Die
2). Crucifixion
3). No-One Is Innocent
4). Blood Moon
5). Fragments & Ashes
6). Back To The Light
7). All We Have Is Now
8). Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want
9). Thieves And Whores
10). Broken Lines

The Review:

It’s always a tricky task when musicians concerned in a new project are referred in the vein of that overused and god awful term ‘supergroup’ and each band member’s lineage fuels the preconceptions of starry eyed fans, for better or for worse. But with Giraffe Tongue Orchestra and many releases of this kind, it was only ever about good friends getting together and making music; making noise and having fun.

It just so happens that Ben Wienman has stated that he is “extremely proud” of an album “many thought would never happen,” with Mastodon’s Brent Hinds and fellow axesmith on the record echoing his sentiments. “I really hope,” he adds “[that] everyone who gives it a listen might find something in there they like,” and as a marker to go off, that is the one.

For, while there are the unique sounds of each member’s mother acts tinting the colours of this record, they also paint their canvas with new inventions, flavours and ideas that have sparked throughout this collaboration.

It is a record perhaps most poignant for Alice In Chains vocalist William DuVall who, despite fronting two superb records with the ‘grunge rock’ icons, still represents, for some, a band that died with Layne Staley back in 2002. Here he unleashes a performance marked with soul and fire, oozing gorgeous, often haunting and often uplifting vocal melodies characterised by his shadowy falsetto. He is filling no man’s shoes here and, alongside a glittering cast, he forges an identity of his own. It proves to the cynics what a talent he is. From the malicious spit of opener “Adapt Or Die” to the LSD funk of “Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want” his voices adaptability is astonishing. As far as singular performances go, he is more surprising than a gloryhole in a posh restaurant yet, unlike such a thing, he never sounds out of place and proves himself something of a chameleon front man. To go into detail about each and every nuance would take an age, and while DuVall may have a point to prove, for the rest of the band this is an environment in which they spread their creative wings away from the definitions and identities of their main projects. As such, this is a record which never corners itself in terms of genres and styles and such freeing expressionism helps ignite the record.

“Adapt or Die” and “No-One Is Innocent” represent the band’s more vigorous, aggressive side, packed as they are with battering thrash riffs and drum performances, courtesy of The Mars Volta sticksman Thomas Pridgen, that sound like the rumbling of greased up V8 engine.

“Back To The Light” which features guest vocals from Juliette Lewis and who it previously seemed would front the entire project – inherits some of the Dillinger sound with its jolting and angular riffage. Effects-swathed Mars Volta guitar acrobatics decorate the verse before a cannoning space battle of a chorus takes hold; one vastly expansive and detailed. “All We Have Is Now” meanwhile sees the band sounding softer, slower and creepier with something resembling a plagued ballad.

“Everyone Gets Everything They Really Want” bounces off an upbeat jazz chord progression, but as it does so in peaks and troughs, in fake climaxes and weird, discordant stabs, leaving you feeling that there is something more sinister afoot. Its chorus, after more tension strains you in its bass dominant pre-chorus, sounds like Red Hot Chilli Peppers on a bad acid trip; a fucked up but ultimately addictive boogie. From there the darkness grows overhead, things go overcast, the lava lamp morphing of colours and shapes darkened by brooding atmospherics, with DuVall and Hinds’ vocals, as so often they do across the record, weaving in and out of one another at the top of the mix. Yet for all unusual quirks at play here, they help concoct something unique here. Giraffe Tongue Orchestra have forged a sound that is unlike any other and more than just the sum of all its parts.

“Broken Lines” is, in all, diverse and thrilling and one of the most unpredictable records you’ll hear all year.

“Broken Lines” is available here

Band info: facebook

INTERVIEW & ALBUM STREAM: "Waker" from Copenhagen, Denmark's sludge metal bastards BARRICADE

The Copenhagen, Denmark-based sludge metal bastards Barricade is back with their second full length album ”Waker”, which is a fierce stew of social indignation and a musical pedal to the metal. First and foremost, ”Waker” is the proof of a band with something to say and a sense of renewing its own expression while setting the bar high for the alternative metal scene.

”Waker” will be released September 30th via the band’s own label Black Grain Records on LP/CD/Digital and today you can check out the album in full with our exclusive stream, as well as short interview.  

SL: Can you give us an insight into how you started playing music, leading up to the formation of Barricade

We all started playing music when we were young teens in the early mid 90`s and discovered bands like Nirvana, Metallica and Pantera.  Some of us Tejs, Lars and Jonathan grew up together and have been playing together for a long time in various bands and genres. Barricade was born in 2010 and Patrick joined in as a second guitar later that year.

SL: For folks unfamiliar with your band, is there any bands on the scene past and present that you would use as a reference point band to describe your band, and who or what continues to inspire you and push you to try new things?

Well we have very different influences and bands we like. Our musical background is very different stretching from Grunge through hardcore all the way to death metal – but let’s say that we have listened to a fair share of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Mastodon, High on Fire, Raised Fist and Red Fang.

SL:  What can you tell us about your upcoming record and where do you feel it sits within the context of current doom scene

We don’t see ourselves as a doom band. We prefer sludge metal. We have some short slow parts in some of our songs, that have a little doom inspiration. Don’t know were the Doom definition comes from? :)

Our new record is a kind of “new” start, in that form that we use to have 2 drummers, but we parted ways with our second drummer about a year ago and decided to continue with one - which resulted in a new sound that is more heavy and slow but still with our aggressive hardcore inspired attitude.

SL: Does anything spring to mind when you think about the completion of your upcoming record and how is the mood in the camp at present?

We are happy and proud that we made this record. It has been tough and hard work not least because we did almost everything ourselves. We did the recording in a realy nice big pro studio and Patrick (guitar) did the mix and mastering. Lars (guitar, vocals) did all the artwork and graphics. The video was done by our drummer Tejs. So it’s been a long but exciting process. Now it’s done and out in a few weeks, so the mood is good and positive and we hope people will like our new record.

SL: What stands out as your overarching memory from the recording sessions?

This time we had a more “real” feeling to it than we’ve had before. This time we did two weeks of non-stop recording sessions on vintage gear with Emil Sauer, a very skilled pro recording engineer and producer. Emil gave us a lot of inputs and did a great job on working with the basic sound. We had the real feeling of being in the studio. So a very different process than our previous releases where each of us would have short sessions of recording you know layer on layer etc.

SL: With a solid gold album in the bag, how is your schedule shaping up over the next 12 months?

Thanks J We don’t have a lot of plans for now. It’s hard to get gigs and tour in Denmark at our level and music genre. Hopefully we can get some cool support jobs for bigger acts when they come to Copenhagen. We are planning to do a small EU tour early 2017 and festivals next summer.

SL: Finally, do you have any final comments/word of wisdom you’d like to bestow upon us?

Thanks for doing this interview. Stay true to yourself and work hard for what you believe in. Love your fellow man and animal despite all the differences you may have. Teach your kids that everyone is right. Music for all – hate for none. Cheers

”Waker” will be released September 30th via the band’s own label Black Grain Records here , and the album will be accompanied by a string of live shows in DK and beyond.

  

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Suicidal Tendencies – “World Gone Mad”

By Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/09/2016

Label: Suicidal Records

 

It flows in a virtually flawless manner and I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best records, ever.  This one’s a home run with a bullet. 

 

“World Gone Mad” CD//DD track listing:

 

1). Clap Like Ozzy
2). The New Degeneration
3). Living For Life
4). Get Your Fight On!
5). World Gone Mad!
6). Happy Never After
7). One Finger Salute
8). Damage Control
9). The Struggle Is Real
10). Still Dying To Live
11). This World

 

 

The Review:

 

This record’s a battleship.  The crew, Suicidal, are armed and ready.  The waters they navigate are treacherous in a “World Gone Mad.”  I’ve listened to this record three times so far, this is what we’ve been waiting for -- a rock solid return to their punk roots and a celebration of their metal soul.  Most of all, though, I feel like “World Gone Mad” is a document of our times. 

 

The record drops at the end of September, right in the middle of a crazy presidential election, at a time when terrorism is at its screaming worst, and racial tensions are at an all-time high.  And this record reflects all of that. And more.  “World Gone Mad” has a dark and ominous tone that creeps through the record.  Track four, “Get Your Fight On” sums it up lyrically – “…just look around, the world’s gone crazy…if you’re waiting on a hero we’ll all be dead…”  This record has heart and soul.  There’s a vibe of continuity that’s almost unsettling here, guiding the listener in very calculated fashion.   It has purpose and direction.  This is S/T at the very TOP of their game.

 

“World Gone Mad” is a proper return to the sound they perfected in the 80’s that straddles their punk roots ala their debut record and the metal edge coupled with Muir’s critical humor and societal eye of “Lights…Camera…”  The band sounds fresh, tight and reinvigorated with the addition of Dave Lombardo on drums.  I say this for a reason.  The drumming stands out on this record like an exclamation point and at times rallies the band with a cohesiveness I haven’t heard in quite a while.

 

“Clap Like Ozzy” sets the tone for the rest of the record:  Warpath.  Mosh fest.  Fast punky guitar and drumming the way it used to be.  Overall, the songs on this record, especially “Clap…” and “Living for Life” seem like polished versions of songs that could’ve been on their first, self-titled record.  I can’t emphasize this enough.  Muir and band have reconnected with S/T’s past in a way I didn’t think would happen again.  And it sounds real, not forced, genuine. 

 

“The New Degeneration” might be the most honest indictment of today’s kids I’ve heard so far.  Where’s the rage and anger?  Where’s the demand for change?  Why the canned rebellion and not a call for action, true action instead of slaving to social media and the like?  You can hear Muir’s questioning, Muir’s anger in this song.

 

I mentioned “Living for Life,” before.  It stuck with me because it has a Dead Kennedy’s groove to it, S/T style.  Again, a song that could’ve easily been on their debut record.  Lombardo’s drumming makes this song and it shows.  This is where the band rallies around Dave, taking the lead and setting Muir up to go in for the kill.

 

 

I could keep describing songs but the truth, is, there’s not a bum track on this record.  It flows in a virtually flawless manner and I do believe “World Gone Mad” will be remembered as one of their best records, ever.  It’s already made my best of 2016 list.  Band chemistry is killer with this lineup.  This one’s a home run with a bullet.  Buy it.

 

“World Gone Mad” is available to pre-order here

 

Band info: official || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard - ‘“Y Proffwyd Dwyll”

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 30/09/2016
Label: New Heavy Sounds

  

“Y Proffwyd Dwyll” is a celestial voyage of crushing density.  “Valmasque” sets the tone for the album, establishing a towering wall of sound built from huge lumbering riffs, set against a backdrop of swirling space noise and sci-fi synths that enhance their attack and swell their sound to a galactic scale.  Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard have struck gold here with their distinct brand of spaced-out carnage.

‘“Y Proffwyd Dwyll” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Valmasque
2). Y Proffwyd Dwyll
3). Gallego
4). Testudo
5). Osirian
6). Cithuula

The Review:

Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard is a name that conjures certain preconceptions. New LP “Y Proffwyd Dwyll” is a colossal slab of cosmic heaviosity worthy of such a ludicrous moniker. However, the execution of these six epic tracks is a million miles from the standard stoner doom you might expect from a band whose name could’ve been generated by pointing at four random words on an Electric Wizard lyric sheet.

“Valmasque” sets the tone for the album, establishing a towering wall of sound built from huge lumbering riffs. The band more than hold their own in this department, the monstrous intro of “Osirian” being a particularly prime example. Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard have a couple of tricks up their sleeve though that elevate their sound into another dimension.

The first is their use of electronics. The whole record is awash with swirling space noise and sci-fi synths that enhance their attack and swell their sound to a galactic scale. The instrumental “Gallego” brings to mind Hawkwind and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop after undergoing a sludge conversion.

The other key element here is the vocals. On first listen Jessica Ball’s vocals seem too smooth and polished against the mayhem in the background. Subsequent listens reveal them to be the lynchpin that brings everything together. Coated in layers of sweet reverb, they increase the hypnotic psychedelia of the music while adding catchy melodic hooks. The poppy chorus of “Valmasque” is like Grimes fronting Sleep doing the soundtrack to 70’s Doctor Who. The climax of “Cithuula” sees her channelling Chino Moreno at his most dramatic while the band provide a suitably crushing Deftones-indebted backdrop.

“Y Proffwyd Dwyll” is a celestial voyage of crushing density that threatens to draw their home of Wrexham into a black hole. Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard have struck gold here with their distinct brand of spaced-out carnage.

‘“Y Proffwyd Dwyll” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

RIYL: Conan, Slomatics, Yob, Windhand

EP PREMIERE - Minneapolis sludge metallers No Funeral debut "Misanthrope"

No Funeral is a sludge metal band from Minneapolis MN (ex Sourvein current Witchden), who have just released a 4 song cassette called “Misanthrope” (limited to 100 copies) on their own label No Funeral Recordings. This is their first release, although they’ve been around about 4 years and you can check the release in full below and can bed preordered here

Band info: facebook || bandcamp