Cattlemass : "Alpha 1128"

The opening track from this Los Angeles-based band's debut album feels like a cross between heavy sludge and Hawkwind, which it comes to the vocals. They do not start off roaring like an angry lumberjack jack which plays to their favor. While more aggressive than doom, I like that these guys are taking chances and not slaves to the sludge bible. The chanted drone of the vocals seems to be the approach they are sticking with going into the second song. The chug is a little faster on this one. 

They slow down to a more deliberate lumber on "the Wizard," though the uniform vocal approach is starting to create a one-dimensional feel to the songwriting. I think it was a good effect, but pushing it further than the first three songs is going to be overkill. There are a few growled accents that sit further back in the massive wall of fuzzed-out guitar. "Nachthexen" finds him singing a little more, and less of the chanting; the song is more flowing with a gang chant accent to the chorus. 

"Replicant" finds some interesting sounds grinding out in its groove. The vocals have a similar sound but are phrased in a different enough syncopation to work. 'Infecticide" has a deliberate sludge rumble that borders on doom, with the vocals falling back into their comfortable pattern. They go back into the more psychedelically infused style of jamming on the last song. It is an instrumental that works more of a kraut-rock throb. I will give this album an 8.5, due to the uniform nature of the vocals that hampers the dynamics at times, but if you are looking for sludge with a 70s vibe, these guys are for you. This is dropping on October 24th on Seeing Red Records. 

pst358