ALBUM REVIEW: Lord, "Desperation Finds Hunger in All Men"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 24/08/2018

Label: Heavy Hound Records

“Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” takes the thrash infused sludge of last years “Blacklisted” record and blows it up on a grand scale to deliver the Virginia quintet’s finest work to date.

“Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” CD//DD track listing:

1). No Sunrise on the Third

2). Scorched

3). Nature Knows No Kings

4). At First I Didn’t Believe It

5). La Fleur du Cobalt

6). August 11, 2017

7). Whispering Snakes

8). Mutilation Rites

9). Have A Look For Yourself

10). This Lonesome Linger

The Review:

The joyous news of the arrival of a new Lord album is tempered by the fact it will be their last. “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” takes the thrash infused sludge of last years “Blacklisted” record and blows it up on a grand scale to deliver the Virginia quintet’s finest work to date.

It is not certain whether or not this release was created knowing it was to be Lord’s swansong. Either way, it is brimming with a fearless urgency and restless urge to experiment that feels born of a band determined to go down swinging. “No Sunrise On The Third” wastes no time in getting things moving with a rumbling Soundgarden style riff. Lord soon introduces a healthy dose of southern sludge Downwould be proud of and some surprisingly melodic vocals which contrast well with the surrounding heaviness.

From here, “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men” charts a journey through concise, fist-pumping stoner anthems like “At First I didn’t Believe It” and “Whispering Snakes” and massive, slowly-unfolding epics. “Scorched” comes across like Crowbar branching out into progressive territory while “La Fleur Da Cobalt”finds the band at their most passionate and enraged. Most devastating of all is the monstrous “Nature Knows No Kings”. It begins with what feels like the cacophonous climax of a punishing doom track and proceeds to drive a single ominous riff further and further into the depths of despair. Over the course of eight and a half minutes, Lordcreate a broiling cauldron of crushing sludge, squalling feedback, unhinged lead guitar and desperate vocals that makes for a unique ride into the beyond.

Just when you thought there were no more twists and turns to negotiate on this LP, Lord sign off with “This Lonesome Linger”, a twelve minute acoustic piece. The style really suits the band with their complex compositions working equally as well with the volume down, embellished with string arrangements.

Lord can be proud that they have gone out on a high with “Desperation Finds Hunger In All Men”. Hopefully this album will inspire others to follow their path into uncharted waters of doom and sludge.

“Desperation Finds Hunter In All Men” is available to preorder/buy here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Lord - "Blacklisted"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: Heavy Hound Records

Label: 26/05/2017

In a genre often bogged down by soundalike bands, Lord offer a sharp shot of adrenaline in the form of “Blacklisted”. The band’s distinct blend of gnarly thrash and filthy sludge deserves to see them go far.

“Blacklisted” CD//DD track listing:

1. Mile After Mile
2. They Lied
3. The Bandage
4. Blacklisted
5. The Heart of a Hero
6. Not Your Problem?

The Review:

Lord don’t take any prisoners on new release “Blacklisted”. Over the course of 30 breathless minutes the Virginian’s unleash a barrage of High On Fire-indebted stoner thrash dredged from the deepest swamps of New Orleans.

The opening trio of “Mile After Mile”, “They Lied” and “The Bandage” find the band in unstoppable full flow. Sections of raging high-octane mayhem crash into the kind of huge sludge riffs Downwould be proud of, while a variety of throat ripping howls and barks wail overhead. The title track sees Lord add bursts of dirty death metal and furious blastbeats into the mix which bring an edge of nastiness to their already grimy sound.

The undertones of Crowbar’sslow-motion misery that bubble under the surface throughout “Blacklisted” are given free rein on “The Heart of a Hero”. Lordably demonstrate that they can slow down to a languid crunch without any loss of impact and still deliver a devastating blend of crushing riffs and epic melody. The track peaks with a huge solo that distils everything that is great about this release; a perfect mix of technical ability and ragged, untamed energy.

“Not Your Problem?” brings the record to a close in strong, anthemic fashion. It’s the closest Lord get to a regular song with elements of straight-ahead punk’n’roll aggression mixed in with their trademark deadly riffs. It provides a suitably powerful vehicle for a rant on consumerism and not turning a blind eye to the world descending into chaos.

In a genre often bogged down by soundalike bands, Lord offer a sharp shot of adrenaline in the form of “Blacklisted”. The band’s distinct blend of gnarly thrash and filthy sludge deserves to see them go far.

“Blacklisted” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook