ALBUM PREMIERE: DEMANDE À LA POUSSIÈRE deliver hypnotic and paralysing debut

French Blackened Post-Core band DEMANDE À LA POUSSIÈRE are set to release their self-titled debut album this coming Friday September 28^thvia Argonauta Records. The band delivers an impressive hypnotic yet aggressive sound which moves from Blackened Post Metal to Sludge and Doom, with an apocalyptic vibe of ambient bleakness. Dive into the dark sound of DEMANDE À LA POUSSIÈRE and stream their full album below, yurn up the volume and let your speaker die.   "DEMANDE À LA POUSSIÈRE” is available to purchase (HERE)

 
Band info: facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE & REVIEW: Phantom Winter, "Into Dark Science"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full length

Date Released: 02/03/2018

Label: Golden Antenna Records

From the opening chords of "The Initiation Of Darkness," Phantom Winter create an experience that grinds into you relentlessly and the results are truly phenomenal.  You'll be thankful for this experience, harrowing though it may be.

"Into Dark Science"CD//DD//LP track listing

1. The Initiation Of Darkness

2. Ripping Halos From Angels

3. Frostcoven

4. The Craft And The Power Of Black Magic Wielding

5. Into Dark Science

6. Godspeed! Voyager

The Review:

Following 2016's well-received "Sundown Pleasures," German sludge/doom crew Phantom Winterrejoin the living in 2018 on its latest. Its six-song "Into Dark Science" are hereby your reminder that doom and sludge, like cold brew coffee, are best served pure and without flourish.

The subtle beauty of Phantom Winter's music has always been its truth in vision. It stands out because it isn't preening with the idea of being something more exceptional that a doom group. They do not need to: the performance is so unique and powerful that its presence is all that is necessary. Such focus on craft is freeing. What's more the sheer quality of the musicianship virtually guarantees that the band does not require a hyphenate sort of marketing. Instead, Phantom Winter, from the opening chords of "The Initiation Of Darkness," creates an experience.

"Into Dark Science" is effective because of its claustrophobic soundscapes and baleful vocals. Storytelling is very much part of this mood; Phantom Winter shares its lyrics with fans, and its misanthropic vignettes are certain to sit with you for awhile. "No god can help you here, no sun will ever shine," goes "Frostcoven." "We are usurpers of the night… the ghosts who haunt us scream in pain." " The Initiation Of Darkness " crashes against your head in fits and starts, with words inspired by poet Sylvia Plath and activist Adrienne Rich. "Ripping Halos From Angels" throbs with Full of Hell-style abandon. "The Craft And The Power Of Black Magic Wielding" sets a mood and grinds it into you relentlessly. In all, these are seem disparate, but share common bonds, sonically and lyrically. The results are truly phenomenal.

As you come to the album's conclusion, Phantom Winter present more of that harsh edge of doom it presented earlier. Broken-glass vocals and a tumultuous guitar sequence will leave you spellbound. You'll be thankful for this experience, harrowing though it may be.

"Into Dark Science" is available to preorder/buy here

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Oryx - "Stolen Absolution"

By: Mark Ambrose

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 23/02/2018

Label: Midnite Collective |

Graven Earth Records

The escalating tension, heartfelt enthusiasm, and ripping tone coalesce to elevate Oryx’s sophomore record to an early contender for best sludge album of 2018. 

“Stolen Absolution”CS//CD//DD track listing

1. Intro

2. Blackened Earth

3. Born for Death

4. Abject

5. Interlude

6. Price of a Dollar

7. The World in Ruin

8. Stolen Absolution

The Review:

               

The two-piece metal group is a risky venture: for every stellar example that incorporates multiple registers, tones, and intimate dynamics (Bell Witch, NEST, Obsidian Tongue) there are a dozen that do not sound like anything except an inept demo tape (which I politely won’t call out here).  Thankfully Oryx, the Colorado by way of Santa Fe two-piece, fall solidly into the former group: a balanced collaboration that sounds like a symphony of savagery.  While “Stolen Absolution” is a sophomore release, this marks their first album as a two-piece – a sort of second debut, more distinct, assured, and unique than their prior effort,

“Widowmaker”.

               

The downtuned guitar takes center stage on this album, augmented by a layer of fuzz that’s thick but not impenetrable.  At the heart of the maelstrom there are riffs aplenty, gliding between gnarly sludge rhythm guitar and ethereal, high end leads.  Guitarist & vocalist Tommy infuses a lot of his playing with folksy twang, crafting a distinctly American take on blackened sludge.  But when he pulls back from the shimmering dulcimer-reminiscent elegies, the sour sludge pouring from the speakers is skin peeling filth.  Drummer Abbey serves as a propulsive force throughout the record – her feel for steady rhythm eschews flash without sounding simplistic.  The blast beats are fierce without falling into the weird idiosyncrasies of timing that befall lesser drummers, while the tribal might on tracks like “Abject” is as menacing as the drumbeat of an orc army.  In fact, the only thin moment on the record, the guitar-only Interlude, feels distinctly OK (rather than uniformly “excellent”) because of the absence of interesting drumwork.

               

Thankfully, the rest of the album more than compensates for this otherwise very fine bridge track.  “Blackened Earth” and “Born for Death” are sludgy little gems, and sound far more complex than many dual-guitar bands could hope for.  There’s a really effective contrast between low end murk and higher tones that Tommy manages to pull off on the record – I’m interested in seeing whether it plays as effectively in a live setting.  “Abject” is without a doubt the best track on the first half of the record – with the vocals altering between death growls and fried screams.  The agonizing intensity is remarkable.

               

The master suite of the record has to be the one-two punch of “The World in Ruin”, and the title track, “Stolen Absolution”.  On “The World in Ruin”, Tommy establishes a cinematic, poisonous spaghetti western track rife with menace and beauty in equal measure.  When Abbey’s drums slam in at the opening of “Stolen Absolution”, it’s a moment of genuine catharsis countered by immediate dread.  The prior themes on “The World…” sour and evolve, while Tommy’s unhinged vocal performance is flawless.  The escalating tension, heartfelt enthusiasm, and ripping tone coalesce to elevate Oryx’s sophomore record to an early contender for best sludge album of 2018.  “Stolen Absolution” would be an achievement for any band, and is even more impressive since it’s balanced on the shoulders of two savage metal masters.

“Stolen Absolution” is available here (CD) and here (Tape)

Band info: facebook|| bandcamp

ALBUM PREMIERE: DeathCrawl unleash the pummelling "Acceptable Level of Misery"

DeathCrawl have been delivering apocalyptic sludge from the rotting carcass of Cleveland, OH since late 2006. Powered by 3 throats, 19 vacuum tubes, 1887 sq. inches of speaker cone, and 1739 sq. inches of drum heads, they unleash a pummelling soundscape of failure, apathy, and violence.

“Acceptable Level of Misery” is the band’s third full length album, and the long-awaited follow-up to 2012’s “Accelerated Rate Of Decay”.

With their 3 pronged vocal attack, their style of blackened sludge mixed with doom and black elements gives their music a nice sinister vibe throughout. And today you can sample their new album “Acceptable Level of Misery” in full ahead of it's release on 27/10/2017.   We guarantee that you will not be disappointed. 

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM PREMIERE: Springfield blackened sludgers Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean deliver blisteringly intense debut “Decay and Other Hopes Against Progress”

Hailing from Springfield, Massachusetts, Chained to the Bottom of the Ocean deliver a blisteringly intense version of sludge doom and are set to release their debut album, “Decay and Other Hopes Against Progress” on 15/9/2017 via through Howling Frequency Records. Despite knowing virtually nothing about the band and precious little info available, who needs words when a band deliver music so utterly fucking devastating, the band literally render you speechless.

Perhaps taking inspiration for their band name from Louisiana sludgers Thou and their track “Fucking Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean”, this is music wretched to its core, bleak, intense and dissonant , be sure to say your prayers before bedtime because this record won’t just give you nightmares but might just take your soul too.  "Decay and Other Hopes Against Progress" will be released on 15/09/2017 and is available for preorder here and you can listen to this aural depravity in full below.  

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Owlcrusher - "Owlcrusher"

By: Mark Ambrose

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released:18/07/2017

Label: Seeing Red Records

With three tracks spread across 45 minutes, each song embraces sprawl and space: the reverb heavy drum tone pounds like the pulse of a leviathan.  The low end guitar tone crackles with fuzz, while the bass rumbles so menacingly that, with the right sound system, you may get your guts churning like you’ve just been forced to smoke a whole pack of unfiltered cigarettes – you’ve got the cold sweats, your insides feel poisoned, and you’re probably gonna puke, but god damn it you’re hooked

"Owlcrusher" CD//DD track listing

1. Feeble Preacher

2. Owlcrusher

3. Spoiler

The Review

One of my oldest friends also happens to be one of the most skilled musicians I’ve ever met.  He’s not exactly unimpressed by speed shredders, but he taught me a lesson a few years back: if you want to truly punish yourself and hone your precision to a razor fine edge, try running through a song at half speed.  Try to cut that in half again.  You will never see skilled musicians doubt their own abilities when each flubbed chord, each sour note, each early cymbal crash rings out like a screamed expletive during an Easter Sunday mass.  Sludge.  Doom.  Funeral doom.  These aren’t “easier” versions of metal when they’re played with the ferocious intensity and terrifying precision of a group as remarkable as Owlcrusher.  This Northern Irish trio has been ripping for nearly a decade and have justself-released their debut LP: their combination of glacial riffing, blistering vocals, and sludge chaos have caused ripples in the underground metal press.

From the opening of “Feeble Preacher”, the whole mammoth affair has a delightfully unsavory flavor: even the ambient tones recall the scuzzy industrial planetscapes of Eraserhead.  But when the trio comes to life, the sheer scope is undeniably menacing.  With three tracks spread across 45 minutes, each song embraces sprawl and space: the reverb heavy drum tone pounds like the pulse of a leviathan.  The low end guitar tone crackles with fuzz, while the bass rumbles so menacingly that, with the right sound system, you may get your guts churning like you’ve just been forced to smoke a whole pack of unfiltered cigarettes – you’ve got the cold sweats, your insides feel poisoned, and you’re probably gonna puke, but god damn it you’re hooked.  Speaking of poisoned viscera, guitarist/vocalist Andrew Spiers sounds like he’s been living on an unholy mix of crematory ashes and sulphuric acid, in the best way possible.  His whispers, shrieks, and guttural moans weave through the massive spaces between riffs and fills, creating unbearable tension before retreating to the shadows for some triumphant guitar solos.

Title track (band theme song?) “Owlcrusher”has an undeniably catchy guitar hook that repeats, harmonizes, and curls on itself in the final few minutes, settling into a groove so sweet it’s nearly human – before collapsing into sublime, shrieking feedback and demonic wails.  But don’t let Spiers’ almost classic metal riffs, harmonies, and trills fool you: “Owlcrusher” is a punishing, depressive experience.  Closing track “Spoiler” feels like a real-time treatise on decay.  For a brief span, Hobson and McKeown drop out entirely, and their absence highlights their crucial, precise rhythmic balance to Spiers’ looser, sludgy guitars.  When the trio reasserts itself in the album’s closing minutes, the lurching propulsion is as exhilarating as funeral doom gets.  With a debut this dirty, this skilled, and this menacing, I hope to hell I don’t have to wait nearly a decade for more Owlcrusher.

“Owlcrusher” is available digitall here and on limited cd here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Cowardice - "Without Condolence"

By: Stephen Murray

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 29/12/2016

Label: Independent

the sound is relatable and as tender as a fingernail wrenched from its bed. It drifts between aching sadness and violent bouts of self-disgust. This stratum of emotional, chemical and physical self-destruction is the calling card of genuine, heartfelt sludge, and “Without Condolence” is definite rap on the door.

“Without Condolence” CS//CD//DD track listing:

1). No Sovereignty

2). The Tearing Down

3). Synthetic Edens in a Crippled Will

4). I Yield My Prayers

5). Eroding Ethos

6). Lower Tiers of Life

The Review:

I missed the release of “Without Condolence” at the end of last year. Cowardice is not a name I have seen about too much, either, but it should be. Somewhere between the despairing chug of Arizona’s gone-but-not-forgotten Wellingtonand the searing angst of His Hero Is Gone, this debut is the collective effort of some New Jersey scene regulars. It was recorded last summer and it moves like a soot crusted diesel-electric freight train leaking oil and coughing a dark brown carcinogenic fume.

The drumming is a thing of beauty. It slinks and slouches; explodes, shimmers and tinkles. The vocals have that clawing desperation that perfectly exploits the emotional weight of the music which sways between melancholic, gritty, picked melodies and fully blown out chords as evil as pitch-shifted black metal. The whole tone of the album is so well judged that the acoustic number sandwiched in the centre doesn’t feel like a break from it but rather it attacks the target from a fresh vantage.

The overall recording reminds me of those classic 90s underground bands and I absolutely adore it. It sounds like it was taped off a friend’s record player and has a scratchy quality like the back of your throat right before a heavy cold. This record is as grimy as it gets, but in the moments when the guitar is cleaner, peeling back the layers to reveal the bedrock of reverb, guitar buzz and snare rattle, I get an intoxicating whiff of a becalmed Dystopia, which is a perfect invocation for any sludge band.

This isn’t the NOLA sludge sound we rightly love. This apple falls on the other side of the tree. The melodies are not so indebted to delta blues. Nor would I say they are forbidding in the way you would expect doom to be. Instead the sound is relatable and as tender as a fingernail wrenched from its bed. It drifts between aching sadness and violent bouts of self-disgust. This stratum of emotional, chemical and physical self-destruction is the calling card of genuine, heartfelt sludge, and “Without Condolence” is definite rap on the door.

“Without Condolence”is available on all formats here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Unearthly Trance - "Stalking the Ghost"

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/02/2017

Label: Relapse Records

“Stalking the Ghost” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Into the Spiral

2). Dream State Arsenal

3). Scythe

4). Famine

5). Lion Strength

6). Invisible Butchery

7). The Great Cauldron

8). In The Forest’s Keep

The Review:

There are few bands to which the phrase 'criminally underrated' is aptly applied as Unearthly Trance. Arguably spawning the 'blackened sludge/blackened doom' genres, they remain a hidden gem in extreme heavy music that only certain individuals appreciate.  7 years have passed since the superb 'V' with breaking up, 2 Serpentine Path albums, a few Howling Windreleases, a few other projects, a reunion, fatherhood, Thralldomreforming and releasing music coming in the meantime. The question that needed to be asked; will all this time dampen the creative fires that burn within the trident?

Fear not! As 'Into The Spiral', the album's premier track goes straight for the neck muscles with its pulsating, blackened groove, it's a superb start to the album and adds an element of optimism. 'Dream State Arsenal' is more about the gravity; crafting a ludicrously catchy, yet so crushingly heavy riff punctuated by Darren Verni's always exceptional drumming, it's a definite pick up point to where 'V' left off.  'Scythe' crawls like a venomous snake, before striking and infecting your blood stream with its glorious riffs and stop/start rhythm and I'm reminded a little of 2006's 'Electrocution' in stylistic delivery.

Anyone who has heard 'Famine' will know how thick and heavy the guitar sound is, with Ryan Lipynsky's unique riffs sounding apocalyptic yet crystal clear. I heard 'Lion Strength' on a YouTube video of UT playing live, to me it sounded like some of their earlier work...but on record, it's a natural progression from 'V', with Lipynsky providing both the throaty, melodic vocal passages, echoey whispers and his traditional gnarly growls. 'Invisible Butchery'starts with some atmospheric noise before the death growls bellow out like lava spewing from a cavernous volcano. It's the slowest song on the album and will please the doom heads with its subtle nods to Winterand Autopsy. The Penultimate track 'The Great Cauldon' is a 9 minute epic which sweeps through several genres, starting out with head swinging trad-metal and descending into blackened doom, albeit melodic and calculated. As the track travels along, it bares similarities to 'The Scum Is In Orbit' with Lipynsky's trademark croons and guitar solo near the song's conclusion. Excellent stuff. 'In The Forest’s Keep' is the final song and is more of an atmospheric outro than a full song with melancholic guitar passages played over a harsh rumbling before a sample is heard, with added delay over the top. It's a fitting finale to this beautifully crafted album.

To say I had been eagerly anticipating this album would be an enormous understatement; UT are one of my favourite bands and they have rarely, if ever, put a foot wrong along their path. Hopefully, this album will garner the attention and success they deserve. A triumphant return? That and then some.

“Stalking the Ghost” is available here

Band info:bandcamp || facebook

"11 is one Louder": Tides of Sulfur choose their Top 5 blackened sludge releases

Tides of Sulfur

Cardiff, South Wales' heaviest band Tides Of Sulfur are a band who smirk in the face of genre restrictions, so when they were approached to do a Top 5 of their respective genre, we let them decide. They chose Blackened Sludge. Like sludge infected with a black metal virus. As heavy as sludge but with an extra helping of nihilistic bleakness. Throw in some blasting aggression or shrieking vocals for good measure and that about sums it up, because It’s time to turn the volume up to 11, because after all “11 is one louder”

'We're honoured to present to you our top 5 Blackened Sludge albums. While we could have chosen several other genres and sub-genres, we feel that this is the pool we've dipped into the most and a sub-genre which encompasses everything we love about heavy music”

1. Lord Mantis - 'Pervertor' (2012)

In our mind, not only the seminal blackened sludge album, but our favourite extreme metal album of any genre. LM straddle the black metal and sludge sound perfectly, constantly twisting and turning in different directions, changing tempos and vocal delivery but also not afraid to stay on a riff and bore it into your skull. This is the album that really turned our drummer on to the more extreme side of metal when stoner and southern rock just wasn't cutting it anymore. It's drenched in sweat and punk spit, caked in dried blood and vomit and has a black heart at its core. Sadly, drummer Bill Bumgardner took his own life recently so we've plagiarised one of his beats in a tribute to his brilliance. RIP sir. 

2. Unearthly Trance - 'The Trident' (2006)

While UTtreaded in doomier territory with their first two albums, they cranked up the Eyehategod and Black Flag influence on this but retained the icy, black atmosphere they were known for and continued down the left hand path. Offensively underrated as a milestone in extreme music.

3. Dragged Into Sunlight - 'Hatred for Mankind' (2011)

If we had to explain the genre to someone using no words, we would play them this album. It’s bleak, disgustingly heavy and a complete assault to the senses. The first time our guitarist heard this, it completely changed his view on music. Absolutely essential.

4. Indian - 'Guiltless' (2011)

The second album on our list to feature the incomparable Bill Bumgardner on drums and Dylan O'Toole on vocals (O'Toole makes contributions on the Lord Mantisalbum). The undiluted misanthropy prevalent throughout, as well as the use of harsh noise as an added element was highly influential in creating the sound of Tides Of Sulfur.

5. Coffinworm - 'When All Became None' (2010)

The musical equivalent of a bad acid trip and cheap cider binge in a dingy punk squat during a power cut, this album took the bleak, cavernous atmosphere of black metal and filtered it through the grimy filth of sludge and refined it to create something truly unique.

 

Tide of Sulfur’slastest record “Extinction Curse” is a bold and compelling statement and the shockwaves from its seismic detonation continue to be felt throughout the UK underground, so be sure to pick up a copy here

Band info: Facebook