Thursday, October 13, 2011

Noothgrush - "Live For Nothing" (2011) [Southern Lord Records]

I am very pleased right now.

In a world where 'sludge metal' is often defined by post-rock-influenced, post-hardcore, postal service posterboys, we have to look backward in time about a decade ago to see who really was doing it right.

Noothgrush did it right.

Consisting of three gentlemen and a lady from California, this band had a signature sound of belted vocals, twisted sounding guitar/bass combinations, and drums that were usually as brutal as slow-paced drumming could be.

This collection of recordings comes from radio shows this band was a part of back in their prime. Recorded in a fashion that was quite fitting for a band of their nature, this album showcases the raw intensity of a band that made us all realize what 'raw intensity' actually is. Apparently this band is back together now, so this album serves as a quick reminder of what we are to expect back from them soon.

This album is full of obscure gems from their splits and EPs, including the famed Star Wars-themed songs from one of their first demoes, and, holy cow, they covered 'Procreation of the Wicked'.

Quite honestly, this is one of the only 'live recording' albums I could ever imagine putting on repeat. Why? Because this band does something that not a whole lot of bands do: manifest, entirely, their lyrical and thematic concept into their very performance and product. Captured as a collective in a live setting, you get to see a glimpse of what this band does as a unit, not in a studio setting. The very breath that this band breathes is one of decay, destruction, and insanity, and this is done on record, on stage, and even in a radio program's packed room.They can sound as muddied and swampy as they want because they make that their trademark.

I am very, very excited to see new new action from Noothgrush, and I personally feel as if the music world will once again be filled with a breath of life that it has been choking without for some time now.

-Elan

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