Release Date: October 25th 2021. Record Label: Self Released. Format: DD
Crop - S/T - Tracklisting
1.Shame Chamber 05:06
2.Leave 05:33
3.Rotten 06:09
4.Vultures 05:20
5.Blindspot 05:46
6.Iva 06:24
Review
Crop is a Doom/Grunge/Sludge Metal band from Lexington, Kentucky, USA and their debut self-titled release relies heavily on the Grungier side of things especially with the vocals which instantly draw comparisons to the legendary Chris Cornell and Layne Staley. The music is a more gloomier and seedier style of Grunge Metal with the Sludgy and Doomadelic grooves give Crop a more “REAL LIFE” feel to their sound.
Opening song Shame Chamber is a heavy FUZZ based song with distorted levels of grungy and sludgy grooves with the “DOOM” part of the song allowing Crop to bring that classic standard of “Sabbath” amplifier sound almost kicking and screaming into the 21st Century. The distorted FUZZY sounds are quite wild for one part of the song and allow Crop to deliver their own adventurous sound.
Second song Leave opens with a low-key musical psychedelic passage but Crop don’t remain that way for long with this song soon becoming another mature Grunge based offering with the guitars being on the right side of Progressive based Doom/Sludge Metal. The album starts to offer a more “Blues” based approach with the vocals being slightly emotional and even heartfelt at times. The song does feel quite long at times but still retaining an addictive quality and that’s mainly down to the fantastic heavy guitars that’s the real driving force here.
The album continues with its grungy and sludgy rock presence with Crop bringing heavy levels of “DISTORTED FUZZ” to the party. Add the nineties metal atmosphere with a contemporary Doom Rock/Metal then Crop absolutely feel like a band who would be right at home in the Hard Rock/Heavy Metal scene over the last thirty years and still offer a wholly modern sound.
Other cool songs to listen to are: Rotten, Bindspot and Iva - where Crop begin to lay down the heaviest and freshest riffs on the album. The vocals are excellent throughout this album and deserve a special mention.
Crop’s debut album is a thrilling and superbly made album that will appeal to all fans of Grunge, Doom Metal and Sludge Metal.
Words by Steve Howe
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