Blutch – Materia
At A Loss Recordings – AAL021 – April 23, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Once again into the depths of sludge metal this writer must go. A scathing review of Blutch’s third album proper, Materia could quite easily be penned. To put it bluntly, Faithful Reader, it would be a waste of time on my part to tell you, in so many words, that this sort of “music” is quite worthless to these ears, but an even greater loss of time for you to read it. So, any of you not into the Boris, Khanate, and Southern Lord school of ultra slow sludge metal, leave this review and resume reading about a release or genre that is more worth your valuable time.
Now that everyone has left except some individual attempting to find the most pitiful example of music known to man, let the review resume. Materia is nothing more than the same chords played over and over again with random vocals thrown in for effect, the ever-present feedback, and a damn solid rhythm section. In other words, it sounds just like all of the other sludge noise bands that believe they are deep and haunting by creating barren anti-music. This writer gives Blutch some credit for at least stirring things up with distressing, faster numbers like ’Smile’, ’Moving Ground’ and The Black Caped Man’. ’Moving Ground’ is the most noteworthy song here, as it features angry, tortured vocals on top of solid guitar playing, and it doesn’t feel the need to slow down for false effect.
This writer dislikes attacking an entire sub-genre of music based on the bands that have been heard. Unfortunately, the majority of them have been so mind-numbingly dull that it becomes a burden to sit through the album’s entirety. Blutch’s Materia is no different. No doubt this will appeal to those already into bands of a similar sound. This writer’s interest in any form of sludge begins and ends with Neurosis, and amazing as that band is, they must be taken in doses.
Perhaps one day this writer will fully understand the appeal of this form of sound, and a new world will be discovered. Until that day, Blutch and their brethren will be deemed irrelevant.
Official Blutch Website
Official At A Loss Recordings Website
At A Loss Recordings – AAL021 – April 23, 2007
By Wayward_Son
Once again into the depths of sludge metal this writer must go. A scathing review of Blutch’s third album proper, Materia could quite easily be penned. To put it bluntly, Faithful Reader, it would be a waste of time on my part to tell you, in so many words, that this sort of “music” is quite worthless to these ears, but an even greater loss of time for you to read it. So, any of you not into the Boris, Khanate, and Southern Lord school of ultra slow sludge metal, leave this review and resume reading about a release or genre that is more worth your valuable time.
Now that everyone has left except some individual attempting to find the most pitiful example of music known to man, let the review resume. Materia is nothing more than the same chords played over and over again with random vocals thrown in for effect, the ever-present feedback, and a damn solid rhythm section. In other words, it sounds just like all of the other sludge noise bands that believe they are deep and haunting by creating barren anti-music. This writer gives Blutch some credit for at least stirring things up with distressing, faster numbers like ’Smile’, ’Moving Ground’ and The Black Caped Man’. ’Moving Ground’ is the most noteworthy song here, as it features angry, tortured vocals on top of solid guitar playing, and it doesn’t feel the need to slow down for false effect.
This writer dislikes attacking an entire sub-genre of music based on the bands that have been heard. Unfortunately, the majority of them have been so mind-numbingly dull that it becomes a burden to sit through the album’s entirety. Blutch’s Materia is no different. No doubt this will appeal to those already into bands of a similar sound. This writer’s interest in any form of sludge begins and ends with Neurosis, and amazing as that band is, they must be taken in doses.
Perhaps one day this writer will fully understand the appeal of this form of sound, and a new world will be discovered. Until that day, Blutch and their brethren will be deemed irrelevant.
Official Blutch Website
Official At A Loss Recordings Website
