Release Date: July 16th 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Blunt Horse/Grilth Split Release - Tracklisting
1.Blunt Horse - Nuke the Blow 05:59
2.Blunt Horse - Radiation Poisoning 00:25
3.Blunt Horse - No Reprise 08:18
4.Grilth - Foul Beast Ahead 09:47
5.Grilth - Crooked Back and Broken Spirit 08:52
Review
What we have here is a split record from New York Doom/Sludge Metallers Grilth and Washington Sludge/Stoner Metallers Blunt Horse. The split record runs for 32 minutes with bands offering a great amount of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal sounds that are quite different to each other.
Blunt Horse are up first with their 3 tracks and they have a Mastodon/High On Fire flavour to their sound but inject a much needed slice of Psychedelic Metal into their flavour which then changes their sound to a classic style of 70s Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Opening song Nuke the Blow is quite experimental in places and has a free-flowing attitude which is backed up by an interesting style of harsh, gruff, clean and volatile vocals. The song is quite raw natured but the music more than makes up for this and it builds up to an exciting finish.
Second song - Radiation Poisoning - is 25 seconds of aggressive noise in the Experimental Drone environment. Mostly filler but some interesting styles of distorted noise within the short running time.
Third song - No Reprise - is an 8 minute plus track that offers aggressive Sludge/Stoner Metal music that Mastodon were known for back in the day and I must say the Thrash Metal parts remind me also of Behold The Monolith. The vocals are different yet again but they get the job done with interesting lyrics to match. This song is parts Proggressive and Experimental so expect a few twists and turns with this track and you’ll have a hell of time with Blunt Horse.
Griith are up next with their two tracks Foul Beast Ahead and Crooked Back and Broken Spirit. These guys perhaps play the sludgier and gloomier side of the split with their music having a different haunting edge.
Fourth song - Foul Bast Ahead - is a slow-burning track with an Industrial vibe allowing the band to move at their own pace. This band feels partially inspired by artists such as Author And Punisher with the whole environment being quite mechanical but still bringing a Sludge/Doom Metal atmosphere to the party. Even if that party feels like an “End Of The World” style celebration. Girth have a more “Drone Metal” compared to Blunt Horse and perhaps aren’t as riff-centric but there’s a lot of fun to be had with this dark depressive sound.
Fifth song - Crooked Back And Broken Spirit - carries on the same journey heard in the previous track with wild experimentation and heavy distorted Industrial sounding Doom/Sludge Metal parts combining for a solidly entertaining. Grilth excel mostly on this track and this remains my favourite song on the entire track as the unforgiving soundclips bring a real sense of foreboding doom to this song and left me wanting more.
Blunt Horse/Grilth Split Record is an excellent way to spend 32 minutes of your day and be introduced to great bands who play different styles of music to each other. It’s what a split record should do. This is my first introduction to Blunt Horse and Grilth and I’m hoping it’s not the last I hear from both bands.
Words by Steve Howe
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