Review Summary: If Will Haven was a sludge band, this is what they would sound like.
The Abominable Iron Sloth formerly known as The Indomitable Iron Sloth until several members of Will Haven joined the ranks on guitars, bass, and drums formed in 2004 between Chico, CA and Seattle, WA. The main songwriter and member of the band is Justin Godfrey and has gone through several line up changes throughout their formation, but in 2006, the debut album was released with the members of Will Haven. This self titled debut features 12 tracks of pure groove and sludge that fans of the genre should throughly indulge themselves in.
The album starts off with "Hats Made of Veal And That New Car Scent," and from the get-go, down-tuned guitars with meaty distortion accompanied by solid drumming following the rhythm of the guitar. This song will melt your face off from the beginning and to the end. Vocals throughout the album are in the vein of high pitched screaming, not like in black metal, but in the since of screaming like the world is going to end. For example, if you are familiar with Iron Monkey or bands of that nature, the vocals are reminiscent of their style. The down-tuned riffage, and the drumming following along with slow groove of the riff give this album the heaviness that makes this release so powerful. "A Hot Pink Shell of My Former Self" is a prime example of their great usage of guitar effects on the chords over the heavy riffs, which gives it that Will Haven sound at a slower tempo. However, they make it into their own kind of sound. The guitar effects like digital delay, tremolo, phaser, and reverb over the down-tuned meaty guitar attack help layer all of their sounds and give them a sense fullness.
They sure do love giving their song titles long names like "The Family That Stays Together Slays Together" and the "A Distant Pond From The Rivers of Human Limelight." However, the emotion and aggression that is displayed on each of these help bring light to the names of these songs. In "A Distant Pond From the Rivers of Human Limelight," the guitar melodies of the slow groove make you feel like that you want to reach limelight, but you will never be close enough to reach it. "The Family That Slays Together Stays Together" is a full on metal attack of wanting to kill and slay. You may not understand the words being screamed throughout the album, but the music speaks for itself, and if you need to understand the words to listen to this album, then, maybe this isn't the record for you. "Sailing the Edge of the Earth" ends this album, this song is what distracts the album from being a classic. All it is is an annoying bass line, drums over the top, with some spoken word. This could have easily been avoided and taken off the album.
For fans of sludge, down-tuned guitars with heavy distortion and thick riffs accompanied by a layer of guitar effects, slow grooving drums that compliment the riffs, and high pitched screaming, check this beauty of an album out. I would say even for fans of Will Haven, give this album a shot, you might be surprised. Standout tracks include "Hats Made of Veal And That New Car Scent," A Hot Pink Shell of My Former Self," "A Distant Pond From the Rivers of Human Limelight," and "The Family That Slays Together Stays Together."
