Review Summary: At least weed is legal in hell...
I first discovered Bongripper while sober. What a mistake! I just didn't get the band. I could acknowledge their skills and heavy riffs, but something didn't click. That all changed when I got crazy stoned on OG Kush and Tangerine Dream, the kind of high where time comes to a stop and it's as if you're seeing through a strobe light, the kind of high where a person would think you were on heroin if they walked in on you. It was awesome. But then, the next song that came on the stereo was "Doom", the closing track to Bongripper's Satan Worshipping Doom. That's when it clicked. The marijuana allowed me to see into the fifth dimension of music, and it call came to a stunning realization; Bongripper were pure geniuses of the genre.
Having been a fan of Bongripper years for at least a decade, I've come to recognize their distinct sound, which is saying quite a bit, since even the best doom, stoner, or sludge metal acts show no sublities towards referencing their idols. Bongripper keeps this formatting for Satan Worshipping Doom, but the concept of this album - that being Satanic worship - gives the band a fresh fulfilling sound, while still staying true to the music they have produced in the past. This aspect of the album shows signs of not only great musicianship, but also of growth within the band. It really does sound like a bad stoner trip in hell, like that time your friend dared you to take ten hits from the gravity bong, and it all starts to hit at the same time. Everything gradually builds up to an intense climax, even without much conventional versatility.
The timing and pacing of this album is one of, if not, the best qualities Satan Worshipping Doom has to offer. The riffs themselves sound unique and fresh, as well as reminiscent of earlier doom metal acts such as Pentagram or Candlemass. Another fresh aspect to the music on this album is the memorable, perfectly placed, psychedelic guitar solos that are presented in the tracks "Satan" and "Worship". These solos play into the dark, evil tone of the album as well as flaunting the skills of axe-men Dennis Pleckham and Nick Dellacroce in their playing and writing abilities. Since originality doesn't come easy in any form of music, sludge and doom metal being a particularly good example, bands need to know the music they are writing inside and out to ensure that the album will not only fit the genre they are aiming for, but offer the listeners something new as well. Instead of selling out and giving listeners something more generic while calling it a fresh change of sound, Bongripper sticks to a format that has done them well for six albums now. Playing at slow and plodding paces - with the exception to the second track, Satan, which opens with a very interesting black metal riff - , the band focuses on its builds into climactic, heavy riffs that sound inspired and original.
The last thing that makes this album particularly great, is of course, the production. While some sludge bands, such as Eyehategod or Sourvein, choose to revel in their sloppy production, Bongripper takes the clean cut approach to how this album sounded. The mix on the album makes it that all the instruments are audible at all times, and that the concept of the album can fully blossom. What I'm trying to say is: the album sounds kick ass! Although it sounds clean, it still maintains a rough grittiness and muddy sound that all sludge metal albums require. It's a unique balance that really works well in its favor.
I'm stoned right now so I don't know what more to say. But it's cool so you're probably stoned too. Peace.
