lördag 28 Jun 2008, 6:27
A Guide to Doom-Metal. Part V: Sludge Doom.
We move on in my series of guides exploring the vast world of Doom arriving at Sludge Doom. Sludge Doom incorporates heavily from Sabbath and Southern Rock\Blues as well as hardcore. Sludge is probably the most unpleasant and challenging subgenre of Doom Metal out there, the screeching feedback, hardcore-ish vocals and unsettling fuzzy riffing make for an uncomfortable listening experience. In the end this is what makes it rewarding to listen to but doesn't get a lot of play in my experience. Onward we go.
Acid Bath: Talk about disturbing, Acid Bath's music is quite disturbing and unsettling indeed. They incorporated a Southern Rock influence into their palette, giving them a slightly exotic vibe at times. Their songs would go from softness into raging fury within instants, often several times within the same song, creating an unsettling effect. And the harsh vocals only added to the matter. An absolutely essential band for any fan of Sludge. Rec albums: When the Kite String Pops, Pagan Terrorism Tactics.
Corrupted: Another unique Japanese band. They seem to specialize in super epics (the 40 minute Paso Inferior and the 70 minute El Mundo Frio frio for example). They are quite adept songwriters as you'd expect, able to incorporate dynamics not normally associated with Sludge (El Mundo Frio has a harpist), mixing melody and heaviness with ease. I don't find them as harsh sounding as other Sludge bands and that's by no means a slight to them. Their tendency to sing in Spanish and refusal to do interviews or do any sort of publicity adds to their aura. Rec albums: El Mundo Frio, Paso Inferior, Llenandose de Gusanos
Crowbar: A band who took musical influence from hardcore as well as the usual bands from which Sludge derives from, giving them an angrier feel than your average Sludge band but more often than not, these NOLAns are slower than a running cup of molasses in a snowstorm. I like the dynamics this band is able to portray between aggression and melancholy, their slower stuff has a definite atmosphere to it. Crowbar more or less created the whole NOLA sound which is so famous now. Rec albums: Obedience Through Suffering, Broken Glass, Equilibrium. If you're interested in NOLA, you should definitely check out Down, Eyehategod and Soilent Green, even though I don't particularly care for these bands.
Monarch: If you like your Sludge long, torturous and in your face, and no derivation from those elements, this French band is tailor fit for you. Monarch routinely write 20 + minute sludge epics of screaming (female) vocals, feedback-ridden, devastatingly crushing Sludge Doom. The intensity that this band is able to sustain over such a long period of time is truly admirable. They are rather accomplished songwriters as well. A band thats not for everyone, but then again, Sludge is for all the masochists out there. Rec album: Monarch, Speak of the Sea.
Halo: A Sludge band that sound like no other. Picture Streetcleaner-era Godflesh playing Sludge Doom, with less accent on rhythms, and you might get an idea of their sound. Halo's sound has a definite industrial tinge to it, the vocals and guitars are all processed, creating a very hazy sound. They also freely incorporate noise and drone elements into their sound as well. I can only imagine what touring with a band like Pig Destroyer would've been like for those attending those shows. Rec albums: Guattari - From the West Flows Grey Ash & Pestilence, Massive Corporate Disease, Subliminal Transmission. Some of their albums can be found on web archive for download: http://www.archive.org/details/emb018, http://www.archive.org/details/emb003 and: http://www.archive.org/details/emb010.
Iron Monkey: A band that only released two full lengths and a handful of shorter releases, they were a fairly impressive band. Monkey combined a slow sludgy musical attack with full on Death Metal vocals, leading some to call them Death Sludge. Their music sometimes has a heavy stoner feel as well, which means they cover a wide spectrum of Sludge sounds. Their drummer would contribute to the Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine sideproject. Rec albums: Our Problem, Iron Monkey, split with Church of Misery. If you like Stonerish Sludge, you should also check out Japan's dot (.).
Fudge Tunnel: Not a necessarily a Sludge Doom band per se, but I find them sludgy enough to merit mention. Some called them grunge. Well, they sure as shit didn't sound anything like Pearl Jam or any of the other boring grunge bands. FT's sound was thick, slow and sludgy. They had an aggressive, and outright punk attitude to them as well, perhaps best witnessed by their trashy cover conversions of classic songs (Cream's Sunshine of Your Love, Nuge's Cat Scratch Fever and Sabbath's Changes). I quite like this band and its a shame they broke up. Rec albums: Creep Diets, Hate Songs in E Minor.
Grief: Another aptly titled band, Grief is among the most torturous and unpleasant music out there. Grief are the epitome of Sludge Doom, if someone were to ask you what Sludge Doom was, giving them a listen of this band would be a great start. The music is repetitive and tortuously slow, sick and raw. A true band for masochists, not fruity violins or female vocals here. Rec albums: split w\ 13, Come to Grief, Miserably Ever After, Torso.
Goatsblood: Well, if you listened to Grief and thought they were too tame, this means one of two things: you're either the sickest, most masochistic motherfucker in the history of humanity, or you need to check out this Canadian band. Goatsblood have a similar aesthetic to Grief, but they incorporate a grindcore influence, creating even further musical misery upon whomever dares listen to them. They are one of the few Sludge bands who have any degree of technical proficiency. Rec albums: Goatsblood, Drull.
Warhorse: One of the first bands from the Southern Lord label that I was exposed to. Not strictly sludge but I think they fit in this sub category best. Very unsettling band, capable of moments of almost sublime beauty and spacey moments quickly contrasted with uglier moments of screaming feedback and tortured vocals. The bass is very up front, something I like. This band also has a massive and unique sound, they grab your attention quickly and it isn't easy to focus your attention elsewhere, not that you'd want to. Rec album: As Heaven Turns to Ash…
Wreck of the Hesperus (Irl): A Band that isn't pure Sludge, but thats what makes this Irish act interesting. WOTH play a fusion of Funeral and Sludge Doom. The music is slower than most Sludge, less feedback, guitar riffs that recall both NOLA staples and Autopsy, vocals with a slightly more accent on the Death side of things, and their drummer is actually capable of hitting more than one beat per second! Rec album: The Sunken Threshold, Eulogy for the Sewer Dwellers.
Thee Plague of Gentlemen: I won't dwell on the reasons for this band's dissolution, but suffice to say I hope ex-frontman Steve Mac suffers many, many beatings before he dies a slow and protracted death. Asides from having a rather undoomy name, this Belgian band made some good music back in the day. They played sludge with more of a Stoner Metal vibe to them. And when I mention stoner, I don't mean that hippie stuff like Kyuss, I'm talking the sonic monstrosity of bands like Electric Wizard. Rec album: Primula Pestis.
Melvins: Melvins aren't a pure sludge band, but I had to fit these guys in somewhere since they had a defined influenced on how the genre evolved. The Melvins are one of those prolific bands who are intimidating to newcomers due to their extensive and varied discography. To be honest, I don't know this band that well, so take my album recs with a grain of salt. Some of the Mevlins' stuff is more stoner based, some of it is closer to Sludge, all of is quite eccentric, like Buzz' hair. Their cover of Smells Like Teen Spirit is better than the original, not that its saying much. Rec albums: Stonerwitch, Gluey Porch TReatments, Lysol, Stag.
5ive's Continium Research Project: Formerly known as 5ive, don't ask me how to properly pronounce that name. Despite that, this is experimental Sludge of the highest quality. Their debut sounds like a dirtier version of Pelican's self titled EP. They've also incorporated drone influences into their sound and their latest album has a distinct post rock influence. They may not be the most menacing or heaviest of bands, but they definately merit looking into. Rec albums: The Hemophiliac Dream, Hesperus, 5ive.
I hope you've enjoyed this guide and hopefully discovered a new band or too. I'll tackle Drone Doom next and after that I'll write one more guide about Doom, covering Gothic Doom and as well as some unique Doom acts who aren't easily pigeonholed and any bands I've missed along the way (Mar de Grises!). Hopefully it won't take me a month to write these! Until next time, keep it heavy.
CrowbarAcid BathDownSoilent GreenEyehategodMonarchdotIron MonkeyFudge TunnelCorruptedThe MelvinsHaloGrief13GoatsbloodWarhorseThee Plague of GentlemenWreck of the Hesperus5iveSouthern LordRelapseCandelight Records