RWAKE : "The Return of Magik"

Perhaps the collapse of society is going to find sludge returning as the dominant force in metal. This Arkansas-based band is back after 13 years. A more melodic expanse of sound brings elements of Southern rock to the forefront of the opening track as guitar solos cascade around it. Brittany Fugate's scathing vocals provide a counterpoint to the lower ominous vocal tones of Chris Terry. The title track carries a more menacing thunder to its metallic riffing. The vocals snarl back and forth with effective venom. I can already tell this is going to be the sludge album to beat this year, though they may go off on a tangent in the next three songs that follow since one of them sprawls out into almost 14 minutes. 

I am breaking this album up and listening to each song then taking a break, and listening to it with fresh ears, rather than trying to digest it in its entirety in one sitting. Normally I just write it all out in my first listen but there is a great deal going on here. "With Stardust Flowers" kicks off with a more rock n roll-like riff that carries hook and punches in equal measure, the sneer of the vocals bringing in the aggression. I really like how the vocals are produced on this song, the overall mix of this album is stellar so far as well. There is country nuance to the guitar playing. 

"Distant Constellations and the Psychedelic Incarceration" is a fourteen-minute song. There is a slow build in the sway of its darker hypnotic feel that shares some common ground with Swans. The vocals are more spoken than sung. It takes six minutes before it takes on its shape as a song, and then another minute before distorted guitars swell into it. They get into a prog metal territory that is not unlike what Mastodon did in the mid-2000s.  Despite being almost 11 minutes long" In After Reverse" has a more straightforward crusty sludge attack. The album closes with a melodic guitar outro, I'll give this album a 9.5, it rips pretty hard and sludge bands will have to step up their game to beat out this one.This album drops March 14th on Relapse Records.  

pst77