TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 (September 2017)

Allow yourself to indulge in a hefty dose of riffs, because it is time to present 16 of the best albums from September, it is time for your SOUR 16. 

You know the drill by now, each month you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, THE SOUR 16 are the records that have been trending the most at SLUDGELORD HQ.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then calibrated into the list below.  All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in the red)

16). Boris - "Dear"(623)

From the opening track, “D.O.W.N. –Domination of Waiting Noise–“, Boris conveys punishing volume so effectively that your ears will ache at practically any level.  Every note and every layered vocal has been obsessed over, placed perfectly in the mix, and acts as a distillation of twenty-five years of intense collaborative synthesis.

15). Order - "Lex Amentiae" (637)

This is harsh, in-your-face, old-school black metal. From the opener "Winter" onward, Order stakes a claim to the thorny crown with its barbarous shrieks, lumbering bass and unyielding guitars.

14). Biblical - "The City That Always Sleeps" (679)

“Mature Themes,” the opening track and lead-off single, certainly showcases a barrage of noise that hits like a barbed-wire baseball bat, but rather than making miles doing this sludgy-psych thing, Biblical branches out far and wide, traversing sonic landscapes that are as vast as the country the band calls home.

13). Major Kong - "Brace for Impact" (713)

Poland's Major Kong tests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Kong give you a dense, impressive album regardless.

12). Made Of Teeth- "Made Of Teeth" (721)

Made Of Teeth have produced a confident, punchy, and savage debut that provides the listener with labyrinthine levels of surprises around each corner.

11). Monarch - "Never Forever" (784)

Monarch orchestrates layers upon layers of sound that roil gently like a dirty bayou. Bresson's vocals – from plaintive wisps to growls and beyond – make Monarch unlike anything else you hear in doom or drone. Such innovation is why the outfit has cultivated a devoted following throughout their extensive career. Never Forever" gives you a side of Monarch that is rarely seen, and is indicative of a fearless performance. Drone is seldom this accessible, or distinguished.

10). Usnea - "Portals Into Futility" (815)

The guitars are thoroughly dissonant and murky, the bass is husky and drums voluminous. Then there are the vocals, which feel like they're being delivered with the sort of urgency of someone trapped at the bottom of a deep well. The whole composition of the record is just magnificent for doom fans.

9). Queens of the Stone Age - "Villains" (1040)

The musicianship is some of the best out there, and QOTSA knows its lane and sticks with it. Suffice to say, if you are already a QOTSA fan, chances are this recording will not disappoint, or may just a little. For others, there is an entirely different dialogue.

8). Ufomammut - "8"(1078)

The time signatures will still have you scratching your head and the chugging rhythms are no less heady as they are pummeling. The choice to structure songs rather than to orchestrate them means that the ideas unfold quicker than what we’re used to. A totally different listening experience, sure, but it’s one that offers yet another opportunity to throw some quality, heavy psychedelic doom on the turntable.

7). Spirit Adrift - "Curse of Conception" (1119)

“Curse of Conception” is a glorious success and a dazzling evolution of an already excellent band. 

6). Dyscarnate- "With All Their Might" (1181)

For those death metal fans expecting endless blasting, look elsewhere. For those who want a pit destroying festival of riffs: look no further. This is Dyscarnate’s best album so far and a real beast of modern death metal.

5). With The Dead - "Love From With The Dead" (1401)

The opening quartet of tracks here offers up a relentless onslaught of earth-shaking doom. Tim Bagshaw is on fine form, unleashing an endless stream of mammoth riffs and lead guitar that channel the hazy evil of his finest moments in Ramesses.  Lee Dorrian’s half spoken, half roared vocals work well in amongst the carnage and are a breath of fresh air in the modern doom landscape.

4). Belphegor - "Totenritual" (1802)

Once again, as they have over the vast majority of their discography, Belphegor has produced an excellent album of the best blackened death metal. This is every bit as good as anything else the band has put out from one of the best extreme bands in the world, no question.

3). Satyricon - "Deep Calleth Upon Deep" (1914)

 ‘Deep Calleth Upon Deep’ is something of a spiritual successor to ‘Rebel Extravaganza’ in that the goal appears to have been to take an established sound and create the weirdest, artsiest version of it they could and there is evidence of a sweeping creative resurgence throughout the album as a whole.

2). Monolord - "Rust" (2105)

Monolord hits all the superlative notes when it comes to doom and the album's closing tracks, "Forgotten Lands" and "At Niceae," are as close to perfect as you can get.

1). Paradise Lost - "Medusa"(5226)

Depthless despair, thick production with pounding drums accentuating the force of the material and those classic melodic leads are all encompassing, making this their heaviest album  in years and amongst their best. “Medusa” can and will turn you to stone- as you will be shocked and stilled by just how good it is.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  September 2017’s SOUR 16 features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Daniel Jackson, Charlie Butler, Mark Ambrose, Victor Van Ommen, Conor O’Dea, Jay Hampshire & Ernesto Aguilar

ALBUM REVIEW: Major Kong - "Brace for Impact"

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: Full length

Date Released:04/09/2017

Label: Independent

 

Poland's Major Kong tests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Kong give you a dense, impressive album regardless.

 

“Brace for Impact” CD//DD// track listing

1. Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures

2. Synaptic Failure

3. Transdimensional Holiday

4. Quantum Elephantum

5. Brace for Impact

6. Gravity Boots

7. Rapid Star Formation

8. Return to the Holodeck

The Review:

Extreme music, like all music, is entirely subjective in experience. Insofar as what that leader can do behind the microphone, that is just as subjective. However, the emotions that bring out of an audience, the passion they stir in their band mates and their ability to make a song memorable inarguably fuel the mystique of any musician.

What happens to that feeling when there is no lead? Without a singer, many of us wonder about direction. So when there is no focal point, it stands to reason that the music itself has to be quite remarkable

Poland's Major Kongtests the limits of music with its new recording, "Brace for Impact." The eight-song release is entirely instrumental and rooted in a science fiction theme. Heady indeed, but Major Konggive you a dense, impressive album regardless.

The group debuted in 2012 with the EP "Orogenesis"and then 2014's "Doom for the Black Sun" and another full length, "Doom Machine," the same year. In 2015 Major Kong issued a split 12" with Dopelordand their  "Galactic Cannibalism" EP. Then there was a 2016 EP, "Brave New Kong." You get the picture: prolific. Taking off a year as the band must feel like a lifetime.

Fortunately, "Brace for Impact" seems like its members have not lost a step.

The previous albums "Doom for the Black Sun" and "Doom Machine" seemed to tell a story of global annihilation and sidebar tales of it. The listener will soon gather that the title of the latest release is a space reference instead of one connoting violence. Where you might hunger for a story behind the titles, let the music itself present a soundtrack for your imagination to figure out exactly what the concept may be. The open, "Surrounded by Hypno-Creatures,"begins with what could be the crank of an equipment failure, wandering out into a languorous spin, then delibrateness to its climax. Is it desperation? Feverish intention? Maybe letting the emotion take over is the best part.

The sharp interludes and twists the music takes make for what feels like one hell of a story. There are strong hints of alien life in the titles, and even in the intense guitars. Plodding cuts like "Gravity Boots" and the urgency of "Return to the Holodeck" suggest escape… from captivity or what, we may never know. Major Kong is simply exuberant in its scene setting. Without a single word, you get an exhilarating ride of a recording, start to finish.

Given their pace for recording, Major Kong could issue more music this year. One can only wish, like the "Doom" series, there is more in store for this magnificent arc.

"Brace for Impact" is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW v2.0: Dopelord - "Children of the Haze"

By: Josh Nichols

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 16/01/2017

Label: Independent

Love them or loath them, Dopelord have found the recipe that appeals to them and seem content to carry on with it.  It may not satisfy every musical appetite, but when it’s what you’re in the mood for, nothing else will do, and nobody else is doing it better.

“Children of the Haze” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Navigator

2). Scum Priest

3). Children of the Haze

4). Skulls and Candles

5). Dead Inside (I & II)

6). Reptile Sun

The Review:

Before I started digging Dopelord, all I knew about Poland was Kielbasa, Pierogi and bad jokes about light bulbs. Honestly I never paid much attention to music nationality other than American and not American.  And even that didn’t matter much. Typical American. Dopelordis so consistently great though, that they’ve lead me on a Polish pilgrimage, delving into Belzebong, Major Kong and even new comers Spaceslug.  The list goes on and on, and please chime in with your favorite. I feel like I need to get my passport in order because these doom shredding Poles have tapped into something excellent.  Since they are often compared to Electric Wizard, I have to say that atop the Polish Dopethrone sit Dopelord, and their latest offering is an excellent reason why.

If you’re a fan of heavy stoner doom, “Children of the Haze” just gives you more of what you’re looking for.  If you’re not, than you probably stopped reading at pierogi. That really seems to be the case with metal heads and doom.  You either grow weary of the repetitive Sabbathworship or you can never get enough. Here at Sludgelord, we are of the latter persuasion. A great track like “Navigator” has the ability to take you to that euphoric haze without ever “holding bong in hand”, as they say again and again through the rich lethargic sludge groove.  Just as you fall under their sway, they shift gears with “Scum Priest”. They pick up the pace a bit and add a rare harsh vocal to shake you out of that stupor just a bit before sucking you right back in with the hypnotic title track.

Honestly, this album flows so well that giving a track by track breakdown doesn’t really do it justice.  There are subtle shifts throughout, but they always seem to maintain a mood that keeps you in that sweet spot.  Heavy fuzzed out riffs, mind melting solos and dank homage at the altar of doom.  What else is there?  A little high, a little low, a little clean, a little harsh, but always swaying you back to the center.  Truly, it’s what they’ve been doing and perfecting for three albums now.  The only curve ball on the album is the final track, “Reptile Sun”. A fine song by itself, it veers more into harsh rock and roll territory than the stoner doom they were laying down for the previous 35 minutes.  If I may borrow from Yob, it’s like they are saying “time to wake up!” “Reptile Sun” seems to break the spell they cast, freeing you with a final burst of energy.

Love them or loath them, Dopelord have found the recipe that appeals to them and seem content to carry on with it.  It may not satisfy every musical appetite, but when it’s what you’re in the mood for, nothing else will do, and nobody else is doing it better.

“Children of the Haze”is available digitally here and you can preorder/buy the CD//LP edition here

FFO: Belzebong, Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Major Kong

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Dopelord - "Children of the Haze"

By: Ben Fitts

Album Type:Full Length

Date Released: 16/01/2017

Label:Independent

“Children of the Haze” is defined by loose grooves, ghoulish riffing and a very vintage sense of wickedness. Dopelord prove that, unlike many other stoner metal bands, they are not content to just create the same song several times over and call it an album.

“Children of the Haze” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Navigator

2). Scum Priest

3). Children of the Haze

4). Skulls and Candles

5). Dead Inside (I & II)

6). Reptile Sun

The Review:

If music could manifest itself in nature, Polish stoner doom quartet Dopelordwould be a murky, black fog. “Children Of The Haze”, the band’s aptly named third album, envelopes you like a cloud of smog that swarms your senses and leaves you lost and helpless at the side of the road. Dense slabs of syrupy guitar and bass fuzz purr underneath clean (with some exceptions), retro vocals. “Children of the Haze” is defined by loose grooves, ghoulish riffing and a very vintage sense of wickedness. Dopelordprove that, unlike many other stoner metal bands, they are not content to just create the same song several times over and call it an album (although it is worth noting that sometimes that trick can be executed wonderfully).

Each of the six tracks on “Children of the Haze” has its own identity, while still managing to retain all the key elements of Dopelord’s sound. The album’s opening track, “Navigator”, creeps like a limping tortoise. Although the opening track oozes with tranquillity rare to metal, “Children of the Haze” quickly changes moods on the next track, “Scum Priest”. The album’s most aggressive track, “Scum Priest” is loaded with bombastic riffing, a vicious demeanour and has the harshest vocals to be found anywhere on the album. “Scum Priest” is followed by the album’s title track, whose chant like vocals and archaic atmosphere makes it the ideal soundtrack to any and all coven based activities.

With clean guitar tones, cavern-like reverb and absolutely no attempt made at heaviness,“Skulls and Candles” is the most fiercely individualistic track on the album. “Skulls and Candles” is a spooky yet oddly assuaging little number, whose location as the album’s fourth track makes it a very effective and pleasant palate cleanser after the twenty-one minutes of thick fuzz and heavy riffs that precede it. This divergence is followed by the albums longest and possible standout track, “Dead Inside (I&II)”. Over the course of nine minutes and nineteen seconds, “Dead Inside (I&II)” unfolds from a sluggish grind into the album’s fastest, most propulsive and hardest-hitting track. The payoff is gradual, but is all the more effective for the time that it took to get there. “Children of the Haze’s closing track, “Reptile Sun”, sees the album at it filthiest. Squalid tones, gruffer vocals and overall nastiness give “Reptile Sun” just the right amount of punch to perfectly end the album.     

“Children of the Haze” is available digitally here and you can preorder/buy the CD//LP edition here

FFO: Belzebong, Electric Wizard, Black Sabbath, Major Kong

Band info: bandcamp || facebook