Here’s a bit of a different speed of The NAM, so you guys don’t think I am just fukll of hate or disappointment, or anything like that. I’m not your dad, so there’s no need for this to be an awkward place for anybody. That’s between you guys. So, I thought I’d start doing genre spotlights for my favorite sub-genres of metal! Doesn’t that sound like fun??? WELL ITS GONNA BE! Now stop crying and listen up, its all about the Sludge today!
First, a little background on Sludge Metal, so everyone is up to the same speed: Wikipedia defines it as “Sludge metal (sometimes referred to simply as “sludge”) is a subgenre of heavy metal that melds elements of doom metal and hardcore punk and sometimes incorporates influences from grunge and noise rock.,” which hits the major notes, but doesn’t really describe the sound you’re going to be expecting.
Sludge is characterized as the bastard offspring of Doom and Stoner, with a streak of that sneaky postman, Grind. Its an acidic amalgam of these genres, which can vary tempo from the Grind to the Doom/Stoner, band to band or even song to song. Its sound is usually an unholy overdriven fuzz that is played on down-tuned instruments, seemingly by torturing them with sandpaper on their strings. It a caustic sound that most people aren’t going to be a fan of, nor should they. It takes a real metal head to get into this sub-genre.
Some great examples of this are Acid Bath, Black Tar Prophet, The Body, THOU, Electric Wizard, EYEHATEGOD, Down (some may argue against this, go write your own damn article), Fistula, and Stoneburner. If that all seemed awfully in alphabetical order, go collect your gold star, you tenacious little detective! I have a play list I will detail at the end, which actually encompasses several genres, mostly linked by a common thread.
Like I said, this genre is a bit extreme, with bands like Fistula, who have a 5 song EP all about an Ohio serial killer and his victims, some who actually escape. Its a grueling album, with severe fuzzing, dark and twisted lyrical imagery, and a very hard sound to like. I loved it, which might say a lot about me (but SHHHHHHHH, don’t tell my therapist. he thinks I’m cool!). Sludge can also be as simple as a slower doom or stoner band, like Crowbar and Down, and as differently heavy as Acid Bath and Pale Divine. Lots of this is interchangeable, and nothing is absolute; but odds are, if its much too fuzz or acidic, just a bit too slow, maybe sounds like a threw a mic into an industrial accident at a guitar factory, its probably Uncle Sludge. But don’t worry, he’s a really cool dude, and he always has the good stuff.
Just stay out of his basement. or garage. or car.
Maybe just wave. Trust me why? NOBODY ASKED ME!
Here’s my personal Sludge list, as it currently stands:
Acid Bath
Acid Witch
Alunah
ASG
The Atomic Bitchwax
Batillus
Bison B.C.
Black Cobra
Black Tar Prophet
Black Tusk
Bobaflex
The Body/THOU Split album
Bongzilla
BUIOINGOLA
Cave In
Church of Misery
Coffins
Coffinworm
Conan
Corrosion of Conformity
Crowbar
Dead Earth Politics
Dead In The Dirt
Devil (Time to Repent album, as I believe there might be confusion with just this one word band name)
The Devil’s Blood
Down (of course)
The Drip
Electric Wizard
EYEHATEGOD
Fistula (Latin for duct or passage way. More you know!)
Gnaw Their Tongues
Graves at Sea/Sourvein split
Graves at Sea, alone
Graveyard Dirt
The Great Old Ones
High on Fire
Indian
Iron Void
Iron Boss
Khthon
King Dead
Lord Mantis
Lycus
Misericorde
Monolord
Mournful Congregation
My Dying Bride
Noothgrush
Pale Divine (Double CD Reissue)
Pallbearer
Phil Anselmo and the Illegals (has the air of desperation and doom associated with this genre related corner)
Pilgrim
Rabbits
The Roller
Servants of the Mist
Sourvein
Stoneburner
The Swan King
Taurus
THeologian
Thunderstorm
Tombstones
Twitching Tongues
Viking Skull
We All Die (Laughing)
Weedeater
Whores/Rabbits Split
Wolves in the Throne Room
Wolvhammer
Yidhra
