Irreversible - Age EP (2006)

Band: Irreversible

Album: Age EP

Year: 2006

Country: United States

Just like with all genres you have leading giants in the form of bands who carries the genres flag forward. In the sludgescene these giants are without a doubt Neurosis, Cult of Luna and Isis (yeah I know Isis disbanded but that doesnt make then less crucial to the scene). But every now and then a band from the underground reaches out and shows us that they can do just as good music. Irreversible's "Age" is just that kind of album. Four songs plus an intermission packed with just about everything you can ask for in a sludgeband. Crushing guitars, heavy drumming, layered melodies, eery atmosphere and a hint of darkness sprinkled on top, the recipe for a delicious sludgecake.

Song(s) you should listen to: 8:22

Probably my personal favourite of the album. Slow layers of heavy melodies that fades out into a down tuned and soothing interlude just to explode in a burst of emotion, just the way I like it and a perfect ending for a near perfect album. And if you ever doubted that this band took it's name from the french film with the same name just read the lyrics to this song, "Time has ruined me. Time destroys all things."

MYSPACE/DOWNLOAD

Líam - Journey... Two Years And A Fragment (2008)

Band: Líam
Album: Journey... Two Years And A Fragment
Year: 2008
Country: Germany
This album title may sound like the most thoughtful complex title in the world, maybe a concept album about someone who went through a state of *insert random emotion here*, but I have to spoil it for you - it isn't. Líam just picked out some of the songs they made in the last two years, and made this album. It may not sound so extraordinary, but the album itself is pretty interesting. It starts off with a post-rock sound. Though the band is claimed to be negative about this society we're living, the first track is pretty light and upplifting, sounding like Mogwai's baby cousin. As the album continues, you will start to notice that it will get a bit darker, but still with those instrumental post-rock influences. It flows in the landscape of Alcest, until the middle of the album, when a shriek suddenly wakes you up. This is the black metal-part of the album, where you can truly hear bitterness and agony mixed in a apocalyptic kind of way. This is therefore an album suitable for everyone, since the first part is uplifting for happy days, and the other part is not-so-happy for those days of hell.

Song(s) you should listen to: As I told you before, this album is divided into two parts, one lighter, and one darker. Since I joined the dark path before I was born, I prefer the last one. Etienne is the longest song on the album, and since the post-person I am, I tend to like that one very much. It's very moody from the beginning to the end, so it will best be served in a dark isolated room with a cup of despair to drink.
But everyone has different tastes, so I think you should just listen to the album and pick your favourite.

MYSPACE / DOWNLOAD

Resurrectionists / Battle of Wolf 359 - Split (2010)

Bands: Resurrectionists & Battle Of Wolf 359

Album: Split 10"

Year: 2010

Country: Germany, UK

Yeah we've been lazy as hell lately I know, theres no real excuse to that so I'm just gonna leave it for you to se if you can find it in your broken, black hearts to forgive us.

If not then I strongly suggest that you download this, press play, play it louder than hell and just start beating your fists against the walls.

I picked this record up at a show last night and sweet spawn of Satan is this a good album! It sweeps you off your feat and while lying down it continues to beat you to a pulp. No mercy.

So what was it that just made you its bitch? Resurrectionists play some sort of screamo-influenced powerviolence and Battle of Wolf 359 plays dark, fast screamo/hardcore with some sweet melodies hidden between all the chaos. So now that we have identified your target, get on your feet and get ready for round two. This time you'll be ready for whats coming.

Song(s) you should listen to: Born Into Fire

This song starts of quite slow and sweettalks you into a sense of comfort but don't let it fool you. It suddenly explodes and unleashes a cluster of heavy riffs, wave after wave.

MYSPACE (RES),MYSPACE (BOW359), DOWNLOAD