sludge

If Fugazi were on Deathwish Inc., they might be Coliseum. Thus, abstract yet hard-hitting politics meet dirty tones, Motörhead worship, unison bends, and a general hardcore ethic. Ryan Patterson’s howl even suggests Guy Picciotto with more testosterone (“defeater” sounds like “repeater”). Kurt Ballou’s behind the boards on No Salvation (Relapse, 2007), so it pulses with […]

Goddammit, another death ‘n’ roll record. How many of these things do I have to review before the trend goes away? OK, no one is forcing me to listen to these records. But, admittedly, I’m a fan of the sound, and there’s a certain fun in seeking out variations on a theme. If metal record […]

Kronos After what seemed like a slow start, metal in 2007 has shifted into high gear. Great releases flood in from the underground daily. In Left Hand Path #009, we’ve reviewed over 30 discs, including must-have splits from Baroness/Unpersons and Eibon/Hangman’s Chair, Harvey Milk reissues, Marduk, Municipal Waste, Abigor, Glorior Belli, Irepress, dark ambient from […]

Soon to FollowLevitate Hydra Head2007 Someone someday should write a book about the late ’90s, early ’00s Boston hardcore/metal scene. It’s mind-boggling that Bane, Converge, Cave In, Isis, Doomriders, Old Man Gloom, and now Zozobra are all connected, not to mention Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Red Sparowes, and assorted one-offs and solo projects. Zozobra began as a […]

This recent quote from Frank Urbancic, coordinator of counterterrorism for the US State Department, got me thinking. “This is not the kind of war where you can measure success with conventional numbers. We cannot aspire to a single decisive battle that will break the enemy’s back, nor can we hope for a signed peace accord […]

In WTF news, Kylesa will be playing select US west coast dates with Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation. This makes no sense other than for the fact that Kylesa happens to have a woman in its lineup also (and that maybe it qualifies as Southern gothic rock). It’s great that the band will reach new […]

Dying Fetus New reviews are up at Metal Injection of Seattle sludgesters Iamthethorn, featuring Himsa’s John Pettibone on vocals, and the infamous Dying Fetus. For some reason, Cannibal Corpse, Necrophagist, and Aborted seem like sensible metal band names to me, but I still get self-conscious when I tell people I like Dying Fetus. At Stylus, […]

City Self-Released2006 Virginia’s King Giant accurately cites Black Sabbath, Clutch, Down, and Eyehategod as influences. The desperate, clawing spirit of the latter looms large here. The band’s bio states it was “born from personal tragedy and drug addiction.” Even though this six-song demo doesn’t have printed lyrics, I’d believe it just from the sound. King […]

My review of the new Black Elk is up at Stylus. It’s a hot, nasty slice of noise rock straight from the ’90s. Over at Metal Injection, I’ve reviewed the new Jotunspor, A.C.T., and Kylesa. Norwegian black metal/dark ambient, Swedish prog rock, and Southern sludge metal – all good stuff. Enjoy!

Formed in 2003, Zoroaster unload slow, sludgy grooves befitting of their beards. It’s heavy stuff, but it would have been heavier had the band named itself after a different religious leader, like, say, Mohammed or Jesus. Imagine the death threats! (See South Park, “Mohammed” episode) However, the original Zoroaster evidently also had a beard; maybe […]