Omega Massif - Geisterstadt

Back from the dead, literally. Omega Massif is a German band that plays instrumental Sludge in a very, if I can say it, relaxing way. This is one of those bands that the listener doesn't actually need to focus on the actual music, everything flows in a very subtle and 'elegant' way. The riffs are very good, some of them kind thrashy, others doomy, and others punkish. One thing that I particularly like about this band is how it sorts of takes you to a trip, specially the last song of the album. The riffs are the reason for this, they are slow and with a nice glass of Belgian beer you could go wherever you want with their music. The bass is present throughout the whole album, it would have been better if he was more present in the foreground rather than on the background, but still a good record and I won't take any points for that. The drummer is very proficient at what he does, knows when and how to fill the spaces and keep the listener interested. The production is flawless, no need to even use an EQ, using an EQ misses the whole story of this album which is to feel how is life in a mine. I would particularly recommend, if available, to listen to this album with a good pair of Headphones or IEM, the trip would be even better. I rate this album 10 out 10.

Ocean - Pantheon Of The Lesser

Ocean have taken the sludge genre to extreme forms and have injected a heavy dose of doom in their sound. As you might expect Pantheon Of The Lesser starts off with quite a bit of feedback, making the listener slightly uneasy and wary of what is to come. Ocean may be a very heavy band (quite a statement), but they remain however interesting enough in the riff department. They break the earth-shattering heaviness with a strangely melodious approach that makes the music at least a bit pleasant to the ears and somewhat accessible. There's no doubt that Pantheon Of The Lesser is all about the atmosphere that the heaviness manages to create and puts the listener into a hypnotic state where repetition and well....heaviness form the main ingredients. This repetition gives the album a very ritualistic setting and to add to that the guys of Ocean have chosen to include Bloody Panda vocalist Yoshiko Ohara who also adds to the entire mystical religious feel. The percussion is as to be expected minimalistic and simple. At certain times you will get the impression that the drummer speeds up a tiny bit, but that will only last a couple of seconds. Then it's back to bashing your head into a bloody pulp. At certain times the massive distortion will make way for a cleanly played melody, providing for a nice variety and relieving the listener for a short while from the gutwrenching heavy guitars. Ocean manage to not exaggerate with the feedback during the entire playtime and tries to keep it to a tasteful minimum and instead focusses on perfecting the couple of riffs that are present here. As previously stated, don't expect a rifffest or just another headbang session, no, this is a record that should be played when you have the time to fully emerge yourself into a particular sound and atmosphere. Only then will Pantheon Of The Lesser fully reveal itself to you and prove what it's capable of.

Ocean - Pantheon Of The Lesser

Deadbird - Twilight Ritual

Deadbird are an off-spring from the established slugde masters Rwake. Deadbird is similar to Rwake because both of them can be placed under the sludge category and both of 'em are heavy. There ends the comparison. Deadbird has more similarities with bands like Thou or Minsk. It has the basic heavy-hitting sludge sound, but mixes it up with more introspective post-rockish melodies without coming across as homosexual in any way and the ocassional lonesome punk riff. What Deadbird seem to have mastered is a quality that is also shared by a band like Minsk; they produce songs that have a perfect and well thought out build-ups that reach epic climaxes that will blow your mind. Despite the ocassional post-rock influence, Deadbird remain a sludge band that is out there to help us get rid of any anger or frustration that may dwell in our heads and therefore remains aggressive to the core, which for me still remains the major appeal of the sludge genre. Like no other genre, it manages to bring across hatred, disgust and anger perfectly and this is also what Deadbird does. Another not so far off comparison would be Burning Witch. While Deadbird certainly doesn't reach the uncompromising heaviness of said band, they are pretty damn heavy nonetheless. Deadbird are clearly influenced by Eyehategod and obviously Rwake. What I appreciate about them is their straight-forward approach and skipping all the technical and at times experimental touches that Rwake have made part of their sound and as such created their own identity, one that is almost completely detached from Rwake and gives its own interpretation of the sludge genre.

Deadbird - Twilight Ritual

Unearthly Trance - Season of Séance, Science of Silence

"The counter of creation resets to zero."

With their recent works Unearthly Trance have been referred to as the modern day Celtic Frost. When they first started out, however, they had a totally different sound and approach. They started out playing really grime and filthy blackish sludge doom, over the years they gradually softened a little bit if that's the right thing to say here and continued onwards in their own direction moving away from what they had done on their debut. This leads to a logical conclusion that Unearthly Trance have a following that is usually divided into Season of Séance, Science of Silence followers and those who think their best period lies in their future works, meaning everything that came after this. I would situate their peak around In The Red; the album that followed the debut. It took the harsh and heavy aspects of the previous album and mixed them up with what eventually would become their new sound. Unearthly Trance have some firm rooting in the black metal scene (Thralldom is perhaps USBM best kept secret) and those influences find their way into Season of Séance, Science of Silence as well, especially in the vocal area. Season of Séance, Science of Silence is at times incredibly slow and heavy, having a kind of ritualistic sound while this guy is screaming in the background. This basically sums up Mass of the Phoenix. The screams are fairly standard and could be those of any good black metal vocalist, but where Lipynsky differentiates himself from others is with his clean howls. They provide a melodic touch and help balance the riff based music and the excruciating heaviness. As always heavy metal revolves around the quality of riffs present and this is where Season of Séance, Science of Silence proves its worth. While the drums aren't anything spectacular on the technical level - they do manage to create this very ritualistic atmosphere - the riffs are very well performed and not in the least bit as simple as the drums. Throughout the album there are moments where these guys decide to speed it up a little as well, mostly during shorter songs such as When Anti-Humanity Flourishes and Black Heart/Black Lung. As you might be able to tell from the song titles, this once again, deals with nothing but the most deep-seeded misanthropy. A constant theme throughout the career of Unearthly Trance. Some more Crowley inspired songs are present as well. I would suggest giving this one a try and then switch to The Trident, then make up your mind as to what camp you belong to. If you end up liking both then you are one of the fortunate souls, such as myself, who just praise everything Unearthly Trance have released up until now. A last bit of advice. If they ever happen to play somewhere in your area, then make sure you are there, because you are in for a blast!

Unearthly Trance - Season of Séance, Science of Silence

A Storm of Light - And We Wept The Black Ocean Within

A Storm of Light was my best live experience of last year. These guys are experienced musicians and it showed - their heaviness has been unmatched so far, not even Worship or Griftegard were this heavy -, I actually experienced some physical awkwardness during their performance, something I haven't had. Nothing special, simply difficulty to breathe properly sometimes and being a put in a trance because of all the flashes and the light show coming from behind them. Anyway, it didn't matter. I have never enjoyed a performance by a band that much as then. I would advise any newcomers to experience A Storm of Light first live and then to buy their record. It will let you experience it more clearly and give you a better understanding of its purpose. In good tradition of the sludge doom genre, this keeps a slow pace throughout the entire duration, features a little alternative take on the typical hardcore vocals - which for most will require some getting used to -, as well as some clear singing and at times a truly sad atmosphere intertwined with interludes that enrichen the entire feel these guys are going for. And We Wept The Black Ocean Within shines the most during "Mass" and "Leaden Tide" where they go from smashing your brains out to depriving you of all hope.

A Storm of Light - And We Wept The Black Ocean Within