So I have been asked by my good friends at
The Ripple Effect to write an article about the heaviest album I have ever
heard. Well that is a tough one. What I define as heavy could be classed as
heavy as Justin Bieber by somebody else.
I spent a long time thinking of suitable
albums I have heard over the years. Usual suspects started to appear mainly the
legendary Thrash/Death/Grind Metal bands I used to listen to in my youth. Well
I say youth I didn't start fully appreciating metal till I was 18 years old as
I am ashamed to say I was more into Dance/Rave culture back then. But thank
fuck I snapped out of that one or Sludgelord Blog could have been something
else entirely.
I am going to choose the album that got me
back into the whole Sludge Metal genre in a big way back in 2007. I stopped
listening to Sludge in a big way back in 2006. I got a bit fed up with the
scene. I stopped listening to Sludge, Stoner and Doom Metal altogether and went
back to Thrash, Death and Grind Metal for about 18 months or so.
Until I heard the début full length by a
Sludge/Drone/Doom Metal Band by the name of THOU from Baton Rouge, Louisiana
And that album was their brilliant début
– Tyrant.
Tyrant is still one of the heaviest records
I have heard to date. The amount of power this band has in their music is
undeniably vast and anything unlike I had heard before. The opening riffs of
Tyrant still gives me goosebumps almost 6 years I have heard this record. Then
Bryan's vocals kick in and you know your going to get seriously fucked up for
the next 59 mins or so.
This album is drenched in thick sludge. It
oozes violent raptures of sheer brutality. This is Sludge Metal at its most
raw. THOU lay everything on the line here. You can feel their pain right from
the start.
I knew from the very song that Tyrant would
be a very special album indeed. Thou include some haunting beautiful melodic
riffs amongst the carnage. THOU are a band who captured the very real essence
of NOLA based music like I had not heard at the time in 2007.
2nd track - I Was Ignored. And Judged.
And Cast Down – carries on the sheer brutality that Thou laid down with
Tyrant. Playing epic riffs matched with brutal vocals that can change your
entire beliefs.
THOU continue playing huge epic slabs of
Sludge Metal mixed with Drone and Doom Metal that many bands cannot match. Some
have tried but many have failed. Tyrant is one of the most powerful albums that
Sludge Metal has to offer. It's a thought provoking masterpiece into the
darkness that mankind has lurking away. It's just THOU can see this better than
most people and they have to tell the viewer what is actually going on.
Check out the brilliant album titles as
even they can cause a negative reaction in people.
With a Cold, Life Extinguishing
Elegance
Fucking Chained to the Bottom of the
Ocean
These tracks aren't exactly uplifting
bundles of joy. They are songs full of despairing nightmarish lyrics and brutal
riffs to match. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
THOU may have gone heavier with each and
every release they have committed to the world so far. And there is a lot of
them. 3 full lengths and a huge number of EP's showcasing that THOU are one of
the hardest working bands in Sludge Metal today.
People might say – “Well Steve. Yeah
it's heavy. But I have heard heavier.” Well that maybe. Primitive Man's
début album Scorn is a heavy as fuck masterpiece as well. And they have a lot
in common with THOU.
But this album got me back into Sludge
Metal in a big way. I just had to hear more. I discovered a lot more great
bands as well. I started writing for other blogs and webzines. Mainly starting
the build-up for Sludgelord blog.
So THOU rekindled my love affair with Sludge
Metal once again. And it has never gone away. Am still doing Sludgelord almost
two and a half years later. Though I had to include this album as well mainly
because of one track. Acceptance.
Acceptance is possibly my all time fave
THOU track and one of my all time fave instrumental tracks. It shows THOU at
their most endearing and most creative. It's an epic tale told through the
power of riffs. Even there are no vocals it still packs an almighty punch. It's
so powerful it can bring tears to your eyes. Though it's a style of music that
THOU haven't touched upon since. I hope they will do one day as it shows they
do have a caring melodic side to them.
Well I have gone on long enough. My reasons
why Tyrant is one of the heaviest albums I have ever heard. If you haven't
heard this masterpiece then hunt it down now. THOU have it up for free download on their
excellent website along with some of
their other brilliant extensive back catalogue.
Written by Steve Howe aka Sludgelord
Check THOU from links below
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