Tuesday 1 July 2014

Bloodlung - Roach - Album Review


Album Type: Album
Date Released: June 2014
Label: Self Released

Roach - track listing:

Bound, Gagged and Force Fed Viagra
Roach
If These Demons Wake
Trust Issues
Meat Gazer Boogie
I Have Lost
Wanna Feel Alive – Go Killer Yourself
Black Sun Blues
A New Outlaw

Bio

Heavy, Loud, Groove “unpalatable,” “offensive” and “unacceptable”. Sludge Stoner Doom Hardcore Punk

Band Members

Bower - Vocals
Jason - Guitar
Sam - Bass
Ricky – Drums

Review:

I first reviewed Bloodlung rough demo back in Dec 2012 and I thought it was a heavy slab of riffs to check out if you are a fan of EyeHateGod and Corrosion of Conformity. 18 months later one of Wales heaviest Sludge/Stoner Metal bands are back with their debut album – Roach.

The band adds a dark sense of humour to their music especially with a couple of the song titles. However, they are masters at where it counts. – The music. As Roach is a heavy as heck experience that shows a band paying homage to their musical heroes while forging their own identity with impressive riffs of their own. Check out superb title track – Roach – that opens with a banjo slow-paced ditty before the Sludge/Stoner metal vibes come into play with loud growls and grunts bringing some much-needed authority to the party.

The album has a DIY based production feel to it and that is no bad thing. It gives the album a rough and ready kind of charm as it matches the heavy riffs that Bloodlung have on show here. One of the album standout tracks is – If These Demon Wakes – as it opens with stoner based humour with heavy pounding sludge riffs that make you feel the band are from the legendary NOLA swamps and not the Welsh Valleys. It’s a dangerous mix when the band unleash bleak despairing vocals with jet black humour as you don’t know whether you should be laughing or feeling uncomfortable at the desperate situation being played out right in front of you.

Bloodlung takes a Church Of Misery approach to their music with soundbytes being weaved into the music, especially on one of the albums standout tracks – Trust Issues. As it blends public safety style soundbytes with fast-paced sludge/stoner metal riffs which sees the band at their most hypnotic and insane best. Bloodlung debut album is a dangerous and highly addictive cocktail of different moods with lashings of dark humour while unleashing violent mood swings for you to join in with. The album becomes ever darker towards the end as the album closes to a loud and thrilling finish. Loud epic riffs await you with baited breath.

Roach is a heavy pounding album from a band that could make a name for themselves within the UK Sludge/Stoner Metal scene if they release more albums like this in the future.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Thanks to the band for sending me a copy to review. Roach is available to buy here.

Check the Band from Links Below


Written by Steve Howe