Slow Southern Steel...coming slowly

http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/3CHY0xOvPbE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0

Above is a trailer for Slow Southern Steel, a documentary about Southern sludge metal. Rwake vocalist CT and David Lipke are directing it. Shooting is still occurring, so perhaps the trailer is premature. (Scheduled are a May ’10 festival debut and ’11 DVD release.) But it has me excited for the film, even though I’m not that interested in Southern sludge. Much of it seems to me like (a) heavier Southern rock, or (b) Black Sabbath with yelling.

But it’s arguably the most American form of metal. The music is almost devoid of atmosphere. Sure, Zoroaster may use fog, and other bands may bandy about the “psychedelic” tag. But compared to European doom metal, Southern sludge is as atmospheric as a brick. It concentrates all its power into The Riff. The Riff becomes the atmosphere, the song, and the album. Vocals are almost an afterthought. This approach is unbalanced, but it has an admirable purity. As Phil Anselmo says, it’s “one f**king gigantic massive riff that steps on you the whole night.” Love The Riff; forget the song; check out the many beards. What’s not so interesting sonically could come alive visually. Southern sludge is full of colorful characters. Hopefully this film will convey that.