Thursday, 14 July 2016

-(16)- Lifespan Of A Moth (Album Review)


Release date: July 16th 2016. Label: Relapse Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Lifespan Of A Moth – Tracklisting

1.Landloper
2.Peaches, Cream and the Placenta 05:57
3.The Morphinist
4.The Absolute Center of a Pitch Black Heart 03:25
5.Gallows Humor
6.Secrets of the Curmudgeon
7.Pastor in a Coma
8.George

Band Members:

Bobby: Guitar
Dion: Drums
Cris: Voice
Barney: Bass

Review:

Greetings all,

I put on the new -(16)- album "Lifespan of a Moth" after a particularly long and shitty day at work. After listening my mood improved, or got worse, depending on how you look at it. This record reminded me of why we all fell in love with metal to begin with. It is a reminder that there are others out there as pissed off and angry as we are. It's quite cathartic.

For those that are not in the know, -(16)- is a California Sludge metal band that has been around since the early 90's. Lifespan is the band's 7th full length. Despite the Cali roots, this record is steeped heavily in the sludge and metal side, as opposed to the Cali Stoner vibe. This is sludge at it's grimiest, no stoner vibe. I detect more of misery and booze vibe, and I love it. -(16)- pummells you unapologetically. The riffs are meaty, the drums mighty, the bass is slow and heavy like molasses, and the vocals kill. 9 times out of 10 if I am going to give up on a metal record it is because of the vocals killing the deal, but these are spot on. Focused and intense just like the rest of the band.

After a couple of quiet seconds the first track, Landloper, smacks you with it's intensity, and moves with a start/stop pace that is bound and determined to snap your neck. The doomy intro to my favorite track Peaches, Cream, and Placenta slowly pummels you before lumbering into the next track. The Morphinist a lumbering behemoth of a song. The absolute center of a pitch black heart has possibly the closest connection to the Cali thrash collective.

The instrumental Gallows Humor, almost delves into a groove, but steps back and reminds you who they are and why they are here. I felt a bit of connection to their Cali brethren Neurosis with Secrets of the Curmudgeon, with the "Here comes the pain again" hook, you are grabbed by the throat and pulled back down into the sludge. Pastor in a Coma pulls out an anguished throat punch to lay you out before they finally relent and slay you with the stop/start riffage of George. These 8 tracks will satisfy you like a sludgy snickers bar. Yeah I went there, and You can stuff your sorries in a sack!

-(16)- have entrenched themselves firmly at the top of the Sludge metal mountain, with Lifespan. If you like heavy, plain and simple, this is a record to check and listen to repeatedly. I know I will be. Highly recommended!

Cheers!

Words by Todd Stealey

Lifespan Of A Moth will be available to buy via Relapse Records on CD/DD/Vinyl from July 15th 2016.

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