Grievous - One Breath From Winter
This is a 3 song EP released in 2004 on Worm Fodder
(which is more of a collective than a label). How this
has stayed so underground I'm not sure. Having the
prolific Aaron Edge as a frontman and ties to bigname
metalcore band Himsa, Grievous should be a household
name within the sludge/doom community. This wouldn't
be so much of an enigma if the band had no talent to
back it up, but they do, oh they do.
This is dark and heavy all around with good production,
interesting and hard hitting songs, and cool artwork.
The EP starts of with the song "Prophets of an Old Science".
A sampled quote of William S. Burroughs sets the theme as
it breaks into a heavy chugging, post-hardcore romp through
the swamp. Like a sludgier version of Cult of Luna, the
music sets both an epic atmosphere and a layer of filth to
bury you under. Loads of hardcore bellowing and screaming
and a groove to keep you lurching. Next up is "Victorious
Visionaries" which I can't help but think was inspired by
another song but I can't put my finger on it. It kicks off
with a bit of a Karl Sanders / Nile vibe in the first riff
and breaks into a faster charge. But then comes the
crawling, slow tempo part with the infamous double bass
roll. After you're done being smashed into nothing, the
song ends with a manic yet bluesy riff and glorious
feedback. Fairly similar in style to the first track,
which gives the EP some cohesiveness. The last song is
"Unseen Seismic Wave" which is a stoner fueled groove.
Liquidy and psychedelic, this track is a bit of a break
in style but in an entirely appreciated way. Has a dose of
Southern feel to it, a bit like Sourvein yet perhaps, but
with its own style and the omnipresent torn throat vocals.
Really, this is just a good solid molasses soaked slab of
heavy, dark and slow. It can be had for an affordable
price at stonerrock.com or their own website (which also
has some nice t-shirts).
Track listing:
1) Prophets of an Old Science
2) Victorious Visionaries
3) Unseen Seismic Wave