If you want sludge, you got it! Seismic fourth album from Portland riff lords Armed For Apocalypse adds proggy flourishes and hardcore energy to their arsenal.
Listening to Armed For Apocalypse’s fourth album is to hear the sound of a slow-moving but terrifying moss-covered giant waking from its slumber, ready to wreak havoc once more. The same could be said of its sludge veteran creators.
Since forming in Chico, California in 2008, Armed For Apocalypse haven’t carved the easiest path. Line-up changes, shifting life priorities and the occasional van crash have all threatened to derail the band at various times. It took several years of bedding in with new vocalist/guitarist Nate Burman and relocating to Oregon before they returned recharged with 2022’s excellent Ritual Violence. What has kept them soldiering on is the relentless optimism and bond between founders Nick Harris (drums) and Cayle Hunter (guitar).
Of course, “optimism” is not the first word that springs to mind as Drown opens The Earth Is Breathing Beneath Me with blackened waves of sludgy riffs, distended grooves and unrelenting bile. Faith in humanity has sunk lower than a dinosaur in a tar pit. ‘Fucking up, bleeding out, it’s only human nature,’ Nate bellows on Ashes Of The Night, sounding like a wounded swamp monster warning of, well, the apocalypse.
While pummelling instrumental Bathed In A Tepid Pool Of My Own Filth reflects the mood of the album, there is variety here. Fists Like Feathers introduces shades of Interpol mysteriousness as their Crowbar-approved downtuned rampage drops out to a single, sinister guitar drone. As drums and bass rumble, the inevitable dam burst of doomy riffing feels like a magnitude nine earthquake rippling under your feet. Kurt Ballou’s production also means each drum wallop and amp-pulverising guitar screech is tweaked for maximum impact. Just listen to Charlie Fischer’s filthy, fuzzed-up bass intro to Keep Up Appearances for proof.
It all comes together on the epic title-track. Moving through seismic riffing, meditative melodic breaks and even skyscraping proggy moments, it’s testament to how far Armed For Apocalypse have come. And how much further they could still go.
Verdict: 3/5
For fans of: Crowbar, Eyehategod, Torche
The Earth Is Breathing Beneath Me is released on April 24 via Church Road.
