Ugly : "Autograph"

In the 90s sludge was more crazed and less composed than the sludge of today. It owed more to crust and punk, than it does today, and this band remembers that. There are certainly metallic moments when every thing converges upon a riff to crush you. I like the darker sonic that include the use of samples. The vocals take a little bit to get use to as they are very raw, with barely any effects on them just crazed man screaming into a mic. Krysta Curry from Landmine Marathon also share vocal duties while helping out with synths, samples, and percussion. Though her vocal presence is not really felt til the second song that has a more oddly orchestrated feel that embraces the weird in a more grandiose fashion that reminds me more of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum. 

They clash to create a pounding angular attack with "Challenging Ego / Challenging Pride" what I like about this song is it does not sound like anyone. There are familiar elements like the scathing trade off of vocals  and the syncopated riff the song builds toward. Sure there is a fair amount of influence from "Souls at Zero" era Neurosis, but they are pretty much just doing their own thing, taking risks and not playing it safe. It pays off. "In My Pocket" takes a solid metal groove and throws it against grim samples so it drowns in a Negativeland like collage they explode out of with a hard core anger. 

They close the album out with the almost 14 minute "Suckle" . Granted the first three minutes of this could have been scaled back as they are making noise. It takes another minute after that to ramp up into the heaviness of the song, which I am fine with and think the song should have started with the on ramp, but it is not a deal breaker. There is a teeth gnashing that infects every instrument they assault you with here. The tribal drums the song ends with might be the album's most Neurosis like moment. But Neurosis has ceased to be so some one has got to scratch that itch. I will give this album a 9.5, they take familar things and make it their on in a beautifully dark and unsettling fashion.