Sludge Metal – Metal Eclipse Reviews

True kvlt: HKSPK, Vox Hexterna, Butch Against the Machine, Jeff, Octohawk, & Zoltar

Metalcatto

I’m later to this than an airplane with two engines on fire, so let’s dive right in!

Primitive Man – Observance

Metalcatto

Anyone who’s been following this blog since its start might remember our fan-requested retro-review of Primitive Man’s Scorn. Even more than a decade later, the band remains one of the most brutal, heavy, and grotesque forces in Doom/Sludge Metal. Before diving into Observance, I’d genuinely recommend you to hold on tight — especially if a) you’re already severely depressed, or b) you’ve recently killed your goldfish out of neglect. Expectations are high, but let’s see if, for once, that makes sense with what we’ve got here!

Ghold – Bludgeoning Simulations

Metalcatto

Sludge Metal sometimes doesn’t even feel like Metal. Maybe it’s because the fanbase seems so far removed from the usual extreme lore that I often forget these releases even exist. However, Ghold looked like a band that deserved some attention, and with a title like Bludgeoning Simulations, I was left wondering if it was going to be ultra-violent or just a parody of the normal beatdown our ears get at MER Industries. There was only one way to find out — by clicking that shady link!

Trudger – Void Quest

Metalcatto

Sometimes you miss the decadence of urban life—the filth that makes you feel alienated, and yet, it’s the only home you know. Why am I starting this so seriously? Where are all the jokes? You see, when Trudger came to us with Void Quest, I quickly realized this band shares members with Dvne (one of my top Prog albums of 2024). The promise was that this would be even darker and heavier, so obviously, I’m more excited than a drunkard in a liquor store (stop it! Get some help!). So let’s go!

Matraque – Nature Morte

Metalcatto

I’ve been a reviewer long enough to understand one thing: I’m not easily intimidated by album promos. So when Matraque’s Nature Morte came in claiming to be full of aggression, depression, and despair, I felt like saying, “Yeah, right—I’ve heard it all before. Start playing and then we talk.” However, there were a few signs this album was going to be something else in terms of horror. One: the sober and yet sinister artwork. Two: the small number of tracks. But let’s see if I was right after all.

Kiritsis-Kiritsis

Pegah

Kiritsis (meaning “small master” in Greek) is a U.S.-based band that thrives at the volatile crossroads of Doom, Sludge, and Hardcore. Their sound is defined by harsh, shouted vocals, crushing low-end guitars, and a raw, unrelenting emotional intensity that mirrors the gravity of their themes. That tension isn’t just audible—it’s woven into the album’s visuals and symbolism. The cover features a stark, medieval-style etching: a crowned figure seated on a throne, confronted by a peasant or servant raising a hand (and possibly a weapon). This imagery reflects the infamous Tony Kiritsis hostage situation, which the band explicitly references. It’s a symbolic clash of power and desperation, of the oppressed seizing control by force—a perfect visual prelude to the chaos that erupts in the music.

Scare – In The End, Was it Worth it?

Is it just me, or does that cover art look like it came straight out of The Seventh Seal? You know I’m a citizen of the world, but you can always hit me in the home department and gain an advantage. Scare is a band that, from the get-go, lets us know it cares little about our petty opinions. That’s the real Punk/Hardcore spirit running through In The End, Was It Worth It? Also, probably the title of your last breakup. Anyway, you’re here to find out if this scary-looking album is worth your precious toilet break time.

Lost in the Riffstorm 2024: Part 1

It’s time for some small redemption. There are a few heavy hitters we missed when they were just released. Whether it was because we didn’t get the promo or simply didn’t find the time amidst the avalanche of Metal we receive every second (yes, per second!), these albums deserve recognition—especially if they don’t make it to any of our end-of-the-year lists. Consider this an apology for past and future mistakes. Convenient, right? Anyway, some of these albums you’ve probably listened to death, while others might not have even appeared on your radar. Let’s get to it!

Pillar of Light – Caldera

Pegah

“Man is wolf to man. Who in the face of all his experience of life and of history, will have the courage to dispute this assertion?“

– Sigmund Freud

Pillar of Light’s debut album, Caldera, weaves a rich tapestry of themes through its Post-Metal and Sludge Doom Metal lens. The album’s title and cover imagery suggest a potent exploration of destruction and renewal, evoking transformation both in the world and within the human spirit. The interplay between light and darkness—embodied by the stark, illuminated gate set against a shadowy background—serves as a metaphor for hope versus despair, life versus death, and the dualities that shape our existence.

QAALM – Grave Impressions Of An Unbroken Arc

SonikGoat

Extreme Metal, in all its guises, seems to oscillate between two states: on one hand, the worship of the comfortingly familiar—usually through the repetitive perfection of rigid forms; on the other, the “outer limits” of Metal serve as a home to a ceaseless churning of these forms. 2024 has seen several excellent releases that together confirm that for every clutch of bands setting out to achieve perfection in older styles, there are those striving to take Metal in new, sometimes startling directions. Thus, we have Blood Incantation fusing ripping Death with the rich analog sounds of seventies Prog Rock and synth; Ingurgitating Oblivion pushing the envelope of avant-garde composition and technicality; or Iotunn fearlessly combining Prog innovation with Heavy Metal passion.