If we didn’t already have enough filthy blackened sludge in the world already, Grey Widow throws their share in the mix as well with their album I, which was released November last year. This band from Brighton in the South of England does all the talking through their music and based on the straight forward album title (I), and all track titles having the Roman numerals I-VII, I don’t think there’s a message underlying this heavy wall of sound, other than to melt your fucking face.
This is pure filthy low end sludge, with a huge blackened doom touch thrown in as well. Parts of it remind me of Bast’s latest release Spectres, though Grey Widow handles less black metal and more heavy death doom. The low end is so beautifully produced that it actually induced shivers in my back. In fact, the whole mix is done very well with the vocals (I assume there’s more than one singer) and the drums sitting very nicely in the wall of low end sludge filth.
So, we’re dealing with 8 tracks here, all quite long as well with the shortest track ‘V’ clocking in just over 5 minutes. What I really love about this release is of course the crushing low end of the guitars and bass, but this band throws in the right amount of tempo changes, as we can hear in ‘II’ and ‘VII’. This makes it not just a long album of slow grinding songs; it actually makes it a very interesting release as well.
All 8 tracks are of outstanding quality, but track ‘IV’ is the tip of the iceberg, bringing all elements this band has to offer together in 7 minutes and 17 seconds of amazing heaviness. This track starts with an impressive chaotic grindcore-like blackened death intro and very quickly starts grinding down with slower heavy riffs. Towards the end of the track there is an amazing breakdown that takes me right back to the time I was listening to tons of hardcore/metal bands throwing windmills around in the mosh pit. For the fans of slow crushing death doom then especially tracks ‘VI’ and the final track ‘VIII’ should be good starting points, but the whole album should be a winner for you.
This is heavy, filthy blackened sludge played with a huge hardcore/punk heart. For fans of Corrupt Moral Altar, Iron Witch, Bast, Primitive Man, Opium Lord and Coltsblood.
