Review Summary: Heavy grooves searching for an identity!
Floodgate were a short lived American heavy band that appeared in New Orleans in the mid 1990s and released only one album, Penalty, in 1996. The group was formed by Kyle Thomas on vocals and guitar, Steven Fischer on guitar, Kevin Thomas on bass and Neil Montgomery on drums. The record was produced by Bill Metoyer, a veteran producer known for working with numerous metal bands during that decade. Penalty reflects a moment in which many groups were experimenting with the boundaries between grunge, stoner metal, sludge and alternative heavy rock, something that Floodgate clearly attempted to explore throughout this album.
The opening track Shivering tries to combine grunge textures with stoner tuned guitars but never quite works, making for a rather mediocre start. Through My Days Into My Nights quickly improves things with a solid piece of stoner metal that recalls the groove of Corrosion of Conformity, while Kyle Thomas reveals himself as a powerful vocalist. Before the Line Divides returns to a rougher and less inspired approach. Those Days leans again toward heavier stoner metal territory, while Till My Soil stands out thanks to its catchy chorus and clear echoes of Fu Manchu. Whole slows things down in an uninspired way, but Second Guesser injects some metallic energy with passages that almost touch thrash metal. Running with Sodden Legs becomes one of the highlights of the album, delivering simple but effective stoner riffs similar in spirit to the second track. Imitation Salvation moves into sludge territory and feels somewhat heavy in pacing, while Feel You Burn drifts back toward an unremarkable grunge style. Black With Sin closes the album with solid stoner metal riffs, although its eight minute duration feels excessive for what the song actually offers.
Penalty ultimately feels like a record trying to cover too many stylistic directions without fully mastering any of them. The most enjoyable moments clearly arrive when the band embraces straightforward stoner grooves, particularly on Through My Days Into My Nights and Running with Sodden Legs. Outside of those highlights, many compositions feel somewhat mediocre and unfocused.
It is therefore not surprising that Floodgate never progressed beyond this debut album.
Best tracks: Through My Days Into My Nights, Running with Sodden Legs, Till My Soil.
