TOP 16 ALBUMS: The Sour 16 for May 2017

Nightbringer

Yes, it is that time again O ye lover of riffs, “The Sour 16” returneth.  You know the drill by now, each month you the reader are unwittingly compiling a list of the top 16 records of the month, covering all genres of metal.  Is it not a chart, in which reviewers or contributors extol their opinion about their favourite music.  To put it simply, “The Sour 16” are the records that have been trending the most at The Sludgelord Headquarters.

The results are compiled based on the amount of page views the reviews have received and are then calibrated into the list below.  All reviews can be viewed by clicking the artwork and we have included album streams wherever possible. (Total views since their publication are highlighted in the red numbers)

16). Dodecahedron - "Kwintessens”(446)

At 41 minutes, “Kwintessens” is deceptively compact for the multitudes within.  Each track, even the instrumental interludes, displays remarkable prowess while remaining confrontational and almost unbearably anguished.

  

15). Longhouse - "II: Vanishing" (450)

The tone, mix and mood of the album is one of darkness, menace and depression. “II: Vanishing” will terrify your consciousness and haunt your soul into painful contortions

14). The Ruins of Beverast - "Exuvia" (461)

“Von Meilenwald has created a terrible, tremendous and frightening invocation of blight and the invincible progress of erosion and disintegration. More than its component parts, an album to haunt the dreams of Lovecraft and Ligotti alike. Recommended without reservation.”

13). Lord - "Blacklisted" (476)

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.

12). Space Witch - "Arcanum"(521)

The band still sound like a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwind and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack, but  this latest release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void., they showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of heaviness but with a more streamlined attack.

11). Woodhawk - "Beyond The Sun" (522)

“Beyond The Sun, is overflowing with everything one could want from a great stoner rock record, thick, rumbling bass tones, sizzling guitar fuzz and infectious, mid tempo riffage, making this the kind of album that is very hard to stop listening to

10). Craven Idol - "The Shackles of Mammon" (567)

This new album does not disappoint, and capitalizes on a lot of the germinal promise that was present in spades on “Towards Eschaton”: zero bullshit, zero pretence, zero fucks metal.  Vocally it is  truly, truly spectacular and unique. Riffs are dynamic. Bass is deeply discernible and the leads are crazy, fiery and have a tone that reminds that metal solos can be a deadly weapon in the right hands, like a flail made of scalpels and razor blades.

9). Blaze Bayley - “Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” (588)

Both “Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” are the best work of his entire career, better than Wolfsbane, better than his tenure with Maiden and better than his past solo work.  Blaze's fire is burning brighter than ever

8). Sjelferd - ‘Fortid’(619)

7). The Cosmic Dead - "Psych Is Dead" (646)

Somehow the band manage to make relentless repetition sound like a captivating journey into the unknown, packed with more subtle detail than a million prog metal odysseys.

6). Ghost Bath - "Starmourner"(686)

From the gentle piano intro of “Astral” to the vibrant and triumphant radiance of “Seraphic”, the tone of the album is pushed ever outward to match the theme of an infinite dream. It’s a theme that weaves its way through the whole album. There are certainly tracks that dive back into blast beats and hyper tremolo picking such as “Ambrosial” and “Elysian”, but the theme always returns to shimmering and heroic major chords.

5). Mouth of the Architect - "Time and Withering" (703)

Each new Mouth of the Architect release is my new soundtrack to oblivion, but revisiting “Time and Withering” is definitely worth your effort.  It has held up over time and is still as big and bold as it was 13 years ago.

4). Gurt - "Skullossus" (868)

This is some quality music that draws from many influences and I feel any metal fan should be able to enjoy it…. possibly even as the soundtrack to their next doom party.

3). Memoriam - "For The Fallen” (1012)

There is no huge introduction needed here. Bolt Thrower may be over, but Memoriam are very much here and ready to take up where Karl Willett's previous troop left off. You know what to expect from the names involved: crushingly slow grooves, like a tank rolling over piles of bones, bursts of thrash tempos and a sound that is thicker than tar.

2). Mutoid Man - "War Moans" (1113)

“War Moans” is fast, heavy and vocally arresting, it is an album that is certain to leave you breathless. 

1). Nightbringer - "Terra Damnata" (1160)

Remarkably, with Nightbringer approaching two decades of existence, they’re pulling off some of the best black metal the country has to offer, with a rabid intensity that, for all its darkness, remains inspiring.

A big thank you as always to our amazing writers, your dedication knows no boundaries and for that I am truly grateful.  May 2017’s “Sour 16” features reviews by:  Richard Maw, Daniel Jackson, Andre Almaraz, Mark Ambrose, Charlie Butler, Conor O’Dea, Phil Weller, Josh Nichols & Ben Fitts

ALBUM REVIEW: Space Witch - "Arcanum"

By: Charlie Butler

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 09/06/2017

Label: Hevisike Records

The band still sound like a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwind and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack, but  this latest release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void., they showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of heaviness but with a more streamlined attack.

“Arcanum” CD//CS//DD//LP track listing:

1. Cosmonoid

2. Astro Genocide

3. Hex Solaris

4. BattleHag

The Review:

Stoke on Trent intergalactic voyagers Space Witch make a welcome return with new album “Arcanum”. Thankfully, the band still sound like a collaboration between Bongripper, Hawkwindand the BBC Radiophonic Workshop to create the ultimate sci-fi B-movie soundtrack. This latest release sees them develop their cosmic barrage further out into the void.

“Cosmonoid” and “Battle Hag” are colossal slabs of super-dense riffage that follow the mind-expanding template of the band’s stellar 2014 debut LP. Even though both tracks clock in somewhere around the fifteen minute mark, they showcase a leaner, meaner Space Witch that still push the boundaries of heaviness but with a more streamlined attack. 

The two shorter tracks here, “Astro Genocide” and “Hex Solaris”, are the most surprising and give hints of where the band may head in future. The former begins in familiar spaced-out doom territory but takes a left turn into the unknown with an unexpected shift into a pummelling up-tempo groove. The shocks come thick and fast from here as the band introduce vocals for the first time. The musical backing begins to negotiate off-kilter riffs before launching into a furious blastbeat fuelled finale. All this makes for an exhilarating ride that shows that Space Witch are just as effective, if not more so, when condensing their massive ambitions into structures approaching normal song length.

“Hex Solaris” initially wrong-foots the listener with snatches of jazz before a huge lumbering riff destroys the quiet. The booming vocals are present right from the start here and feel better integrated then their surprise appearance late into “Astro Genocide”. This track best demonstrates the progress the band has made in expanding its sonic spectrum without diluting its immense power.

“Arcanum” is a firm step forward by Space Witch. Nowhere in the galaxy is safe from these riffs.

“Arcanum” will be available to preorder/buy here

Band info: Facebook|| Bandcamp

TRACK PREMIERE: Space Witch take their brand of psychedelic doom to the next level with "Hex Solaris"

Space Witch are a psychedelic stoner/doom band that draw on influences from 70's prog and psychedelia.The band formed in Stoke-on-Trent, England, UK in 2007 and consist of Darren Lee Rowlands (Guitars and founder member), Daniel Mansfield (drums), Peter Callaghan (Vocals and Electronics) and Tomas Cairn (Bass).  In 2008 they released their first demo, a 2 track self-titled affair and quickly followed it up with a stream of gigs in the UK underground. The demo was followed up in 2011 with 'Resurrection' a 7 track demo which included 3 live recordings.

In 2013 they released their first EP 'The Alchemy Paradox'-A 3 track mini album which was released by defunct Bristol based label Cosmic Tomb.  The band followed this up with a number of shows and festival appearances across UK and saw them embark on the 'Hang the Witch' tour. In 2014 the band released a split with the UK Doom band Trollkraftt called 'Wytchkraft' and their self-titled first full length (a double album) released as a joint venture with labels HeviSike Records, Fear Me Music and Orchestrated Dystopia Records. The album was critically acclaimed and was chosen as Roadburn Festival's album of the day.

To follow the album up, the band toured the UK as well as playing Norway and headlining a festival in Edinburgh which featured on a underground documentary about the Edinburgh scene. Since that time Space Witch have supported bands such as Conan and Mars Red Sky before taking time to write their 2nd full length, 'ARCANUM' which will be released in Spring 2017 on HeviSike Records.

The Sludgelord has been fortunate to have heard “ARCANUM” and make no mistake when we say that that it will undoubtedly be the doom record of 2017, with Space Witch further developing their sound, but retaining all the elements that have made Space Witch one of the premier bands on the scene.  With a release date yet to be finalised, the wait to debut new music from their monolithic face melter is over, with one of the band’s finest and suffocating compositions to date.  I give you “Hex Solaris” by Space Witch, but not as you know it captain.

Band info: bandcamp || facebook