Church of Destiny - Black Smoke Eats Out (2020)
Following up on their debut album from
last year, the Bulgaria-based Church of Destiny have resurfaced with
this five-track EP, delivering a quick shot of dirty sludge on the
lo-fi side. Launching off with the muddy thrashing of “Fixation”,
the band wallows about in low-end reverb, growling vocals, and
hard-beaten percussion, rolling it together in coat of rough
production that fits the attitude on display.
After that pleasant introduction, it's
on into “Ghetto Hope”, which brings a bit of rolling rhythm to
the beats, building the tune up over its run into something that
glides along on heavy bass hum, before breaking back into the rougher
handling. Despite some odd structuring, it's one of the hookiest
riffs on the EP. A spoken-word sample (an extended cut of one used
on Meth Drinker's OIL album)
leads into “Shooting Whores”, which bumps along on more of a
guitar-riven crunch. Bass breakdowns give it some grounding in the
heavier end, though, which makes for an effective balancing.
The
last two tracks run in quick succession, adding up to about five and
a half minutes between them. First of the closers is “Numbing
Dose”, which drops in a druggy sample to set the tone before
launching into a punchy up-and-down rhythm, and “A.C.A.B.” leans
hard into the punk side of sludge's roots, bashing out a down-tuned
blast of hardcore antagonism. Though the production can be kind of
ragged at times, it does show off the band's authenticity in a way,
and sludge is something that's never benefited from being too clean,
anyway. Those looking for some under-the-radar metal, give it a go.
~ Gabriel
For Fans Of; Hypnochron,
Lifeless Gaze, Mudbath, O.D.R.A., Zeppheroin
~
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