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After I made the above graphic (which took a while for my meager design skills) and uploaded a carefully constructed mixtape, I realized I forgot about the previous Slow & Low #2. So I guess we’ll have two #2s – oops. Evidently, I am slow as well. Anyway, slow music: I get so much of this stuff – I’ve yet to make it through 2009’s Deutschland’s Doomed Vol. 1 compilation, which is eight hours long – that it’s hard to know where to start. On my desktop, my “Slow & Low” folder has a bunch of subfolders: “Epic Doom”, “Melodic Doom”, “UK Doom”, and so on. Each of those could spawn their own subfolders; each could be its own blog!
I’ll start at home. Americans invented fuzz; it still remains the most salient American contribution to metal. (See, e.g., sludge metal and a lot of USBM.) Maybe this compilation should be called “American Fuzz”, but, again, I already made the above graphic, and I’m sticking to it. We Americans are dirty. We let it all hang out (for better or for worse). These tones are fuzzy. They have air. They breathe. Think not Eyehategod’s suffocating weight, but something more open-ended. It’s not night all the time here. 10 songs, 63 minutes: hopefully you’ll find a new favorite band or two.
Original photo by Jnn13
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DOWNLOAD: SLOW & LOW #2 [136.09MB .zip]
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Orchid – “Black Funeral”
from Capricorn (The Church Within, 2011)
When I first heard San Francisco’s Orchid, they sounded so much like Sabbath, I got mad. And while I still get that feeling from Capricorn, no band can truly sound like Sabbath. Orchid sound leaner, and, of course, more self-aware. Those are double-edged swords, but the sword of “Black Funeral” cuts through YOU. Write 10 “Black Funeral”s, fog men, and I’ll pledge filthy fealty to you.
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Across Tundras – “Vanguard Battle Hymn”
from Old World Wanderer (Self-released, 2010)
This is embarrassing, because metal-archives.com says that three Across Tundras have come out since Old World Wanderer. (In fact, one of them, Sage, is sitting on my desktop right now, still unheard.) But I listen to music slowly, and slow music even more so. Across Tundras don’t make things any easier by making “Vanguard Battle Hymn”, the first song from Old World Wanderer, a prime candidate for endless repeats. Neil Young borrows Geezer Butler for some heavy Americana. The groove is deep with this one.
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USX – “The Quena”
from Run Thick in the Night (Neurot, 2010)
This record is practically an entire country, with states of electric wizardry, districts of acoustic picking, and counties of psychedelia. The cover artwork of lush vegetation is apt. I could have gone with one of the heavy numbers, but I wanted to cleanse the palate before the more full-bodied wines in this flight. Besides, who doesn’t like drums? Even haters like drums.
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Orchid – “Black Funeral”
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Uzala – “The Plague”
from Self-Titled Demo (Self-released, 2010)
Uzala is a name you’ll hear much more of soon, as they recently got signed and will put out an album this winter. This Boise outfit has the female-fronted doom setup that’s so popular right now (see also, say, Jex Thoth and Wooden Stake). But, boy (or girl), they also have this beautiful gravel tone that’s so wrong it’s right. The first note of “The Plague” is Sabbath, the second is Earth, and from that point on it’s heaven & hell. This lady sure can sing.
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Agnosis – “…And Yet We Fight to Win”
from Hecate (Dark Matter, 2005/2011)
Fans of the recent Seidr record (review) may be interested in this one – Austin Lunn’s previous sludge band, Agnosis. Dark Matter has reissued this EP from 2005, but it still sounds fresh. You can sort of hear the American-sludge-meets-European-melodicism sensibility that found its way, albeit with a lighter touch, into Seidr. Stream and buy the EP here.
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Phantom Glue – “Black Tar”
from Phantom Glue (Teenage Disco Bloodbath, 2010)
Like many other bands, Boston’s Phantom Glue toe the line between noise rock and sludge metal. They haven’t perfected their voice yet, but their self-titled debut is full of nasty moments, and I’m looking forward to what they do next. “Black Tar” seems to be the popular favorite on this record, with a 10-ten intro leading to boisterous uptempo moments. It’s a rough ride in a good way.
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Traitors Return to Earth – “Locust Race”
from Smoke Screen (Self-released, 2011)
Sleep as a sludge band: not a bad proposition. This band definitely has not found its voice yet. But it’s definitely found a stash where good riffs are hidden. As of this point, not much originality (it’s OK to explore the upper strings, really) is present, bu head-nodding riffs still go a long way. Stream and pay what you want here.
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Archon – “Nature Is Satan’s Church”
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Archon – “Nature Is Satan’s Church”
from The Ruins at Dusk (Dark Matter, 2010)
Again, female singing is the trump card here. But the huge riffs are heavy in a good way, like a big blanket in winner. You just want to burrow into them and curl up with some Satan. I guess he’d be outside at church, but you know what I mean. Actually, if Bedazzled were right (how did I manage to pay money to see that??? It must have been a girl), Satan is Liz Hurley, and I’d curl up with that, and then some. Stream and buy here.
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Swamp Witch – “Emerald Serpent”
from Gnosis (Gay Scientist, 2011)
First, Gay Scientist is truly the gayest name ever for a label. Second, Swamp Witch came to me via a sketchy-looking blogspot (OK, it’s redundant to say that) and a sketchy-sounding 192kbps free download. And while it’s not “all there” yet, it’s definitely partway there: dirt, riffs, weight. I’m looking forward to what these Californians do next.
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Atriarch – “Plague”
from Forever the End (Seventh Rule, 2011)
Doom metal as seen from the death rock perspective, which lends a hollowness that reminds me of Verdunkeln’s Einblick in Den Qualenfall (review) from four years ago. I realize that’s an obscure reference, but it’s the only one that comes to mind. This record is first about atmosphere and second about riffs; songwriting brings up a distant rear. Like many of the bands on this mixtape, I don’t think this one is big league material yet. But minor league ball is often more fun, anyway. The cost is lower, the venues are more charming, and you get to sit up close. That’s why I love making mixtapes like this. You get to hear hot prospects before they get called up to the big time. Stream and buy here.
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UZALA DEMO GIVEAWAY
I’m giving away a CD of the Uzala demo. It rules. Please leave in the comments why I should give it to you. International entries are welcome. The best answer by September 22, a week from today, wins.
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Old World Wanderer is so great. Perfect for driving in the countryside. One of their best albums just behind Western Sky Ride IMO. The new one is good as well, but I’ll always reach for those two before.
Here’s one of my favourite slow & low tracks released this year:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtkgxJ8q1z0
I’m actually familiar with a handful of these. Orchid left me wanting to listen to Sabbath instead of Orchid. I wasn’t crazy about Archon. But I have to say that Across Tundras’ Sage rules. I said it was like dark Americana fused to Kyuss. I don’t know the other ones, so I’ll have to check them out.
Atriarch is rather beautiful. I’ll definitely be checking out Across Tundras now!
Thanks for the inclusion Cosmo. Looking forward to getting your opinion on our new album when it’s finally out (recorded w/ K.Ballou again), we’d like to think the new one is a lot more fleshed out and developed.
If anyone is interested they can check out the whole album from the track you posted here. http://phantomglue.bandcamp.com/
Thanks again
Mike/Phantom Glue
Nice mix and it’s awesome that you included Swamp Witch. You should give me the Uzala CD if you haven’t heard Lycus before and you like what you hear: http://lycus.bandcamp.com/
big fan of USX / Orchid and Uzala, will investigate some of the others. i do like Across Tundras somewhat but when i listen to them there is just something that’s lacking for me, somehow the spark is not getting lit, it’s like walking 3/4 of a bridge and then not getting to the other side but turning around and going back, that’s kind of how it feels to me with AT if that makes any sense.
when i first heard that orchid record i thought, am i listening to sabbath or what ? it’s such a full on worship album that you wonder whether someone has unearthed some old/hidden sab album or what ?! it’s so good it also makes any attempt of the original lineup reforming completely redundant and useless, rather listen to this imo.
Uzala is cool as shit and i can’t wait for the full length, chad and darcy are really cool people and metal as hell ! sometimes these female fronted doomy bands get the hipster tag which is bullshit in my opinion. good music is good music period.
as for USX… they have become one of my favorite bands, i have championed their last full length since it came out and i will continue to do so, it’s a brilliant record, like neil young playing hawkwind tunes.
i will check out some of these other bands now.
This is much better than that work out comp Cosmo put together a long while ago…
thanks for bringing back this column, cosmo! can’t believe i missed the first #2 post back in january. damn keen to get my mitts on that Uzala demo. always stoked to hear a band before they hit the big time, plus i’m definitely a fan of female vocals combined with dark music, like Rose Kemp and Chelsea Wolfe.
Archon, hey I remember that video game! On the Apple…was it IIe or the first Mac…don’t remember. Played a lot of green and black games back then, flight simulator, defenders, load runner, auto duel, zork.
Just for the record, the Austin Lunn in Agnosis is not the same Austin Lunn who is currently in Seidr/Panopticon, despite the fact that they have the same name. The Agnosis Lunn did produce most of Panopticon’s work, however, and was in Seidr for a time, so the mixup is understandable.
On a more relevant note, this mixtape is fucking boss. USX are one of my current digs, and Across Tundras is always fascinating aesthetically. More plz!
Came here to post this. Also, Andrew Jude (of Archon) is also in Agnosis. Small world!
Yes, thanks for clarifying this – I was about to post about the Austin Lunn / Austin Lunn situation.
Austin Lunn who plays guitar in Agnosis produced the Seidr record. Austin Lunn from Seidr is in Agnosis currently, but he is playing drums, not guitar/vocals. On the “Hecate” EP, we had a different drummer. The new material with Seidr Austin on drums will be out in a couple months.
Thanks for checking it out!
I do not get the appeal with the whole female singer doom thing. Everybody is going crazy over the new subrosa, and i can barely get through the album I’m so bored by the end.
I think you need better speakers.
Can’t wait to get home and download this. You should send me the Uzala demo because I lead a hectic life: always working, especially since I started my new job, and yet never seem to have time to accomplish everything I need to accomplish in a given day. I take certain controlled substances only very rarely, and sludge /fuzz (practically of the drifting /droning psychedelically-inflected variety) is thus the best way I have to slow things down. I love how this kind of music stretches time and forces you to pay attention to each note or cymbal crash, and how that counteracts the rushed tempo of daily life. In short, I find doom /sludge, for all of the negativity of some of its better-known practicioners, to be oddly therapeutic. Unless you want to be responsible for me starting an expensive drug habit, you should send me this CD.
I meant “particularly,” not “practically.” See, my life is so hectic that I can’t be bothered to slow down and put together a sentence. I need the doom to fix my brain.
Speaking of female fronted doom. I cant wait until the WINDHAND album comes out next month. I think it’s gonna turn some heads. Also, this is a cool mix.
That Orchid track is pretty much a reworked Hand of Doom yeah?
every song on that albums sounds like a reworked song from the first few sab slabs, but they are all crackin’
The more I listen the less I seem to care, so I guess I’ll have to track down a copy of the album haha.
That’s exactly why I didn’t care for it. I don’t mind if they copy the Sabbath sound–hell, more of that is probably a good thing. But when the songs sound like rejected early versions of the classics, then what’s the point? I got the originals stuck in my head after listening to it. So I went and listened to them instead.
Hi Cosmo – I would like the free Uzala Demo b/c I think I am the first person to ask for it.
Best, – Rutz
Also, you should send me the Uzala demo b/c I can trace the origins of American sludge to the weird, slowed down ending of the album version of KISS’s “Black Diamond.” Listen to it and you’ll hear what I mean. It’s the Melvins, Monarch!, or Sunn O))), years before the fact. Not kidding.
At the risk of being pedantic, Gay Scientist has got to refer to Nietszche’s book “the Gay Science”, which is about as metal as Napalm Death.
The Austin Lunn from Agnosis isn’t the Austin Lunn from seidr. there are two of them. the agnosis one is from new jersey and the other one is from Kentucky.
Holy shit! I haven’t heard of any of these bands, but everything I’ve heard so far I like. In a screechy wasteland of black and death metal, this collection is a welcome dose of DOOM. For the sake of my education in metal, and in the name of Satan himself, fucking please give me that demo!
Give me the demo because every other answer sucks and all these guys are fucking faggots.
you must give me the demo, as i already have the tape, and i need the cd to show off to my friends.