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It was the North Carolinian (by way of N’awlins) sludge metal progenitors Sourvein who got me hooked on the genre and introduced me to the next level of riff-centric and decidedly unwanky doom bands. Somehow, simply following my ears to a deep pool of sonic catharsis I found Sourvein’s Will To Mangle , their 2002 full length debut on the now-venerable Southern Lord label. It was the tune “Bangleaf” that slew me, particularly the unbelievable heavy AND hooky riffs of then guitarist Liz Buckingham (now laying down her incredible riffs with incredible UK band Electric Wizard) and the tortured, bestial vocal sear of T-Roy, underpinned by the slow but pounding rhythm section. For me the sound was entirely fresh, the eschewing of solos, the raw production, the ghost of Southern boogie and blues hiding deep in the changes and the tortured and unique vocal sound.
Almost 10 years and many lineup changes later, Sourvein returns mightily with their new full length Black Fangs , out now on Candlelight Records. The glacial and epic pace is still there, however there are new surprising breaks that actually gallop like a detuned Maiden epic and dynamic shifts happen all together, maintaining the interstitial feedback squalls before shifting into giant, mountainous banger-hooks. T-Roy’s voice is as gnarly as ever and as we descend further and further into the austere but swampy hell-scape of Black Fangs the trademark subtlety rises to the surface, his mangled scream advancing and receding in and out of the heavy pulsing murk. A brilliant, dank and essential album that achieves the pinnacle of what Sourvein has been able to give to the world: the sheer essence of heavy music, shorn of pretentious fuckery that weakens the broth like long solos or overproduction. Standout tracks for me are the Sabbath-worshipping “Night Eyes” and the boogie tinged roller “Nomadic”, whose climax throws the whole album over the proverbial mountain. Black Fangs is a brilliant and addictive offering from one of the most unique and essential metal bands out there.
Sourvein are on tour right now in the US!
7/06/2011 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA w/ Jucifer
7/07/2011 Heirloom Arts – Danbury, CT w/ Jucifer
7/08/2011 St. Vitus – Brooklyn, NY
7/09/2011 Popeye’s – Peekskill, NY
7/10/2011 Big Jar – Rochester, NY
7/11/2011 Sidebar – Baltimore, MD
7/12/2011 Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH w/ Nachtmystium
7/13/2011 Mac’s – Lansing, MI w/ Nachtmystium
7/14/2011 31st St Pub – Pittsburgh, PA
7/15/2011 Ravari Room – Columbus, OH
7/16/2011 Volrath – Indianapolis, IN
7/17/2011 Pyramid – Grand Rapids, MI
7/18/2011 Frank’s Power Plant – Milwaukee, WI
7/19/2011 The Empty Bottle – Chicago, IL w/ Nachtmystium
7/20/2011 Fubar – St. Louis, MO
7/21/2011 TBA
7/22/2011 The Hideaway – Johnson City, TN
7/23/2011 Ground Zero – Spartanburg, SC
