Release
date: December
7th
2018. Label: Riff
Rock
Records. Format: CD/DD
The
Tide, Beneath, The Wall
– Tracklisting
1.The
Tide 07:02
2.Beneath
3.The
Wall
Members
Tom
Dimmock- Guitar
Tyler
Hodges- Vox & Drums
Review
Tuskar
latest EP – The Tide, Beneath, The Wall – is their latest and
perhaps finest attempt in creating a heavy stylized Doom/Sludge Metal
sound with amounts of Psychedelic Stoner Metal riffs being played in
the background.
The
EP only lasts twenty minutes but Tuskar manage to create an exciting
sound that most full length albums struggle to match. The band take
influence from bands such as CONAN, SLEEP, Slomatics and Mastodon. So if
you’re looking for heavy progressive Sludge/Doom Metal with extra
bite then you’ve came to the right place.
Opening
song – The Tide – sees Tuskar play a fast-paced style of Sludge
Metal with evil amounts of FUZZ pounding your ear-drums. Imagine
early era Mastodon playing a more modern unsettled style of Doom
Metal and you have the basis for this song. As Tuskar blast, kick and
scream their way through a heavy bombastic wall of sound. The vocals
from Tyler
are firmly rooted in Hardcore based growls. Though you can easily
understand what Tyler
is singing about. The song is quite intense and angry from the start.
Second
song – Beneath – is the most standard Doom/Sludge Metal song on
the EP. As Tuskar get straight down to business of playing a more
riff-centric style of music. There are elements of Psychedelic noises
being added to Tuskar’s overall sound. You can feel the heavy
pounding Stoner Metal grooves slowly creeping behind you before
unleashing heck. The final few moments are some of the most
relentless and angriest sounds on the entire EP.
The
final song – The Wall – starts off slowly before continuing
Tuskar’s heavy volatile mix of Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal. This
is the standout song on the EP as the band create loud bursts of
angry FUZZ style rock/metal. The mood is quite sombre to begin with
but soon changes into a more nightmarish based sound. The vocals are
sometimes hard to understand as their drowned out by the heavy and
distorted guitars. Though it’s the music that is the main
highlight here. Tuskar play long passages of Drone Metal on this song
and this style of music serves them well.
The
EP is expertly produced and allows Tuskar to create a more realistic
sound compared to their previous EP. Tuskar are now two EP’s into
their career. I’m hoping there is a full length album within the
next year or so. As the band have proved they have an original and
exciting style of music all of their own. We need to see what Tuskar
can do with a full length album. Until then, The Tide, Beneath, The
Wall is not only one of the best EP’s released this year but one of
the best records as well.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to Richard at Sheltered Life PR for the promo. The Tide, Beneath, The
Wall will be available to buy on CD/DD via Riff Rock Records from
December 7th
2018.