This Swedish band plays a rowdy version of sludge-tinged metal that is not unlike early Mastodon. This also is a concept album about Swedish folk hero Alrik Andersson, an exiled metal worker forced to migrate to America in the early 1900s. The second has more of a progressive chug to it. It carries a groovy late-70s vibe. With its surf rock guitar "Exiled" is an interesting song with gruff vocals still dominant in the narrative, though the second song found more sung vocals prominent. I might prefer this song as it is darker.
"Fuck the Scabs" is rowdier with a more metallic punch to it. It's almost like death metal but with clean surf rock guitar instead of the normal crunch., There is the sludge aggression to the howled vocals, and some hooky riffs thrown in"Blacklisted " continues to follow the story of Alkrik's downward spiral. It also has a more blatant Mastodon feel to the riff driving it. I own all the Mastodon albums, so I do not need someone to recycle them. Perhaps that is something that is currently in demand in Sweden, and it's is an homage to a time that is different from where those guys are now. 'The Shining Specter" is more atmosphere, but does not really grab me. Then Evictions" feels like they are picking up where they left off as a Mastodon tribute band.
"Orange Lecacy" is a proggier jam. Thins take a on a darker tension for "Creature Cages". This at least end the album with the strongest song. Sure there are som e Mastodon moments even in this one, but you hear enough of where this band is coming from to balance it out. I will give this one an 8. Not the most original thing I have heard this week but it was a fun listen, that folks into this kind of middle of the radio sludge will enjoy.
pst570
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