REVIEW: Mastiff - "Bork" (EP)

By: Ernesto Aguilar

Album Type: EP

Date Released:31/08/2017

Label: APF Records

The abrasiveness of the tracks is exceptional. Whatever you call it, this follow up to their 2016 debut "Wrank" is uncannily brutal. Cuts like "Nil By Mouth" and "Everything Equals Death" are chainsaws of sound, ripping into your head in ways you did not expect

"Bork" CD//DD track listing

1. Agony

2. Nil By Mouth

3. Everything Equals Death

4. Threats

5. Tumour

6. Eternal Regret

The Review:

There is so much to appreciate of artful metal and extreme music with a vision. Literally dozens of metal albums in 2017 have come to you with a message, a profound social commentary or literary and/or historical concept at its core.

Kingston Upon Hull, UK's Mastiffare not one of those bands. Mastiff lowers the sonic boom with angst and decibels. And it will give you a new appreciation for the sheer levels the band takes both.

On their new release, "Bork,"the British group, which bills itself as doing an aggressive form of sludge, drills you with a sound so fierce that you just do not hear often, even in metal. You may not be sure where the sludge notion came from because "Bork" is as far from it as you can find. "Bork" is as methodical as any sludge classic in this sense. However, the sophomore recording by Mastifffeels more like an especially nihilistic form of thrash or hardcore. The abrasiveness of the tracks is exceptional. Whatever you call it, this follow up to their 2016 debut "Wrank"is uncannily brutal. With During the opening "Agony" and throughout this record, vocalist Jim Hodges and the band are inconsolably anguished. You hear fury and pain in every note.

Extreme music takes vocalists to limits few of us could even imagine testing our voices. Hodges is truly spectacular, literally killing each song with his inconsolable wail. At every turn, he seems to be giving everything he can to every note, and one has to wonder if there is a breaking point. However, Mastiffcan offer range beyond growling. A song like "Eternal Regret" is a departure that Hodges simply outshines almost any other metal vocalist on. He's the centerpiece of this black orchestra, though the players all make it a happy torture throughout.

Mastiff's sound could seemingly only be this loud with two guitarists, and Phil Johnson and James Andrew Lee fulfill their roles with aplomb. Cuts like "Nil By Mouth" and "Everything Equals Death" are chainsaws of sound, ripping into your head in ways you did not expect. Mastiff has gotten a live reputation for its volume and the heaviness of its music. "Bork"does a great deal to confirm those reviews.

Fortunately enough, Mastiffis expected to hit the road in the near future. A performance of the songs on "Bork" done live is assuredly going to be a flailing and fun experience.

"Bork"is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

VIDEO PREMIERE: Mastiff deliver a devastating blend of sludge aggro-core with "Nil By Mouth"

Mastiffare a quintet from Hull, a self styled “miserable band from a miserable town” playing a combination of doom, sludge and aggressive hardcore, this crazy bunch of miscreants imbue hate. A sound in the key of malevolence, Mastiff are devastating, with their blend of sludgey hardcore metal. Hell, I’m a dog lover myself, but this four piece are more rabid that a rampaging packs of Rottweilers, an intimidating proposition indeed.  Is there a genre called sludge aggro-core? If indeed there was, this band of merry bastards would be the antithesis of that.  Their music is just low end filth, the pace of hardcore, the crush of Crowbar and venom of Converge. 

In 2016 Mastiffself released an eight track album entitled “Wrank”. Recorded and mixed in two days in February of that year it was a ferocious DIY statement of intent which matched the rabid intensity of their live shows.  The  group  continued  to  gig  relentlessly  and  started  to  pick  up  a  following  beyond  their hometown.

In July 2016 Mastiffplayed a now legendary show at The Alma Inn in Bolton which is recognized as the performance which took them to the next level. They opened a five band lineup at 6pm and blew the venue apart, leaving jaws dropped and ears ringing. In the audience that night were band members and reviewers from the growing UK stoner / doom / sludge metal scene who went away stunned. Also in attendance was Andrew Field, founder of APF Records, who befriended the band and signed them to his label in February 2017.

Mastiff’ssecond release, and first for APF Records, is “BORK”. A six track, 25 minute EP it was again recorded, mixed and mastered in a two day period at the beginning of July 2017. Everything about “BORK”puts debut album “Wrank” in the shade. With  the groundswell  of  support  and  goodwill  felt  towards  Mastiff  in  the  UK  metal  community,  THE SLUDGELORD  is thrilled to be debuting their debut video from the new EP in the form of “Nil By Mouth” which you can check out below. This is very special EP from potentially one of the most exciting bands in the UK today and we are excited to be able to introduce the band to a wider audience. “BORK” will be available via APF Records on 31^stAugust.

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook