ninehertz

Slôdder, from Varmland County in Sweden, have been at this now for six releases, since at least 2018. We’ve been keen followers too. They have a commitment to sludge sounds that is seemingly unwavering, and this new album is not going to break that.

There’s little new on here, fans of Eyehategod and Iron Monkey will be in familiar territory, but it doesn’t matter and certainly isn’t a criticism. Sometimes you need straight up sludge filth and Slôdder are experts in providing it.

Any hopes for something unusual or different will be quickly swept away in a wave of filth ridden doom and replaced with an enthusiasm for the searing vocals and hanging, dirt covered riffs which ally together perfectly. It is toxically, ploddingly lethargic, the vocals somehow increasing in viciousness at times.

What variance there is comes in the form of changes in tempo, a hardcore rage that propels it forward unexpectedly. Slôdder find nice grooves when in this mode, and there are a couple of tracks in the second half of the album which are quickfire grinding, crust-infused scrambles to the finish. They are welcome oases of adrenaline within the wider sludge desert.

The album's final track is its longest, slow and grimy and more doom than sludge. It caps an enjoyable record. Yes, there’s little new here, it is straight up sludge in the main, but it is a satisfying listen with its quality ensuring you don’t pine for invention.