If your auditory tube is in need of a good unblocking, then might we suggest throwing on 'Bad Moon Blues', the third album from Melbourne's doom/stoner/psychadelic mob Motherslug. It's thunderous, it's fuzz filled & the low tuned, thickly coated riffage bursts out far & wide. For a four piece band, the sound is colossal!
The album starts with a short dark acoustic piece aptly named 'Misery', before unloading into one of strongest tracks 'Hordes'. The first five minutes is a rolling swirling mass, with wah soaked solo's, before divebombing into a crushing doomed out ending. Purely epic. Following this, is the standout & strongest track 'Breathe'. Choc full of bass groove, rolling riffs, grizzly vocals & a solid rockin' drumbeat. Feels like it should be on the soundtrack of an in the middle of nowhere road trip movie & if this song doesnt get you moving, you're either dead or incredibly boring.
From thereon in, the the album continues on it's unmerry rumbling stoner/doom way. A dense sonic swarm, unpredictably twisting & turning at any given time. A solid strong point is the songs never feel repetitive with each one having it's own distinct flavour & ride. Making it an engaging and cranking listen right through to the end.
Vocalist Cam Crichton delivers an outstanding performance possessing a great range from the Nick Cave like soothing tones of 'The Ballad Of Jock Brown' through to the gritty gruff aggression on the aforementioned 'Hordes' & another land mover & shaker in 'Monolith'.
If the stoner/doom/sludge realm piques your interest & you've grooved out to the riff bombs of Kyuss, Sleep, Electric Wizard & of course Black Sabbath, then it'll be very hard not to like Motherslug.
Throw it on loud & clear out your ear holes!
8/10
Gary Goat