Tag Diving: Sludge
The river of sludge will go on and on.
Welcome back to Tag Diving! If you’re new here, this is the more-or-less weekly column where I, your host, the esteemed Reliquary Tower, examine the entrails of Bandcamp with the vigor and enthusiasm of an eager dumpster diver. There’s one key difference, of course: I’m not looking for new specimens for my dead rat collection, no sir, that was last week! I’m out here in search of solid samples of sonic succulence. This week we’re going with what very well may be my favorite metal genre. Let’s get sludgy!
Weedeater – God Luck and Good Speed
Forgive me friends, I know they’re pretty well-known, but I can’t bring myself to pass on the band that served as my inspiration to start playing bass. More than a few of you probably know this record, but for those who don’t, it is PACKED with riffs. I’m talking wall-to-wall fuzzed-out earworms. “Dixie” Dave Collins is a monster of a bassist and his vocals are downright slimy. This song was the first I ever learned on bass, so it’ll always have a special place in my heart.
KARP – Self Titled LP
I’ve never thought KARP are all that sludgy, but hey, they’re here and I like them! I remember having a blast with this record the first time I heard it, laughing out loud at the hidden track at the end. KARP’s approach to metal is a noisy, stoner-y one (much like Whores. if you’re familiar with them), and those guitar tones feel like a massage on the ol’ eardrums. I’ll admit that this is the only record I’ve heard by them, but I promise I’ll change that soon.
Kowloon Walled City – Gambling on the Richter Scale
Now for another band I need to listen to more of: Kowloon Walled City. Gambling on the Richter Scale is some downright doomy sludge—slow, lumbering, low-tuned riffs, (drop A#, I believe), and vocals that sound straight up terrified make for an album that sounds like it looks. Most of the lyrics are about late-stage capitalism and urban decay, which are some of my favorite sludge lyrical themes. I like my stuff bleak, and these guys always do the trick. Also you should read about the actual Kowloon Walled City if you haven’t. Super interesting stuff.
That’s a wrap on this week! I’ve got more sludge in the chamber though, so we’ll see if there’s a part 2 next Thursday!
