Date Released: October 21st 2022. Record Label: APF Records. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
King Of A Dead World: Tracklisting
Green Boots
Coughing Nails
Diagnosis Fucked
Bones To Dust
No Safe Place
Parasite
Light A Fire
King Of A Dead World
Members
Phil Wilkinson - Vocals
Pete Cross - Guitars
Matthew Dennett - Bass
Simon Harrison - Drums
Review
King Of A Dead World is the new album from UK Sludge/Stoner Metallers Battalions that sees the band more aggressive than ever before. There seems to be a tonal shift into Hardcore/Groove Metal territory whilst still retaining their Sludge/Stoner Metal edge. The album is a wickedly entertaining release with Battalions reaching the heavier Stoner Metal parts that some of their contemporaries in the UK Underground dare not delve into.
Opening song Green Boots is a harsh mix of Sludge, Doom, Stoner and Groove Metal with even elements of NOLA style riffage being played at a violent fast paced edge. The vocals are aggressive, violent and bleak with the band still allowing themselves the creative freedom to play fantastic guitar sounds and extended jams. The song does become one of a Blackened Doom/Sludge mentality but Battalions still show traces of the classic Stoner sound that made them well known within the underground scene.
Second song Coughing Nails has a sound that could easily be compared to KVELERTAK with it's frantic style of Psychedelic sounds and classic Sludge/Hardcore themes. There is a subtle sideline in glitchy beats and breakdowns which took me by surprise. As it shouldn't really work but Battalion's use of consistent flashy progressive guitars make this one of the most interesting and standout tracks on the album.
Third song Diagnosis Fucked is a Hardcore aggressive blast of Sludge and Doom Metal with the harsh vocals bringing a more extreme and brutal vibe to the album. Those catchy guitars do their laying down some epic WEEDIAN inspired sounds that wouldn't go amiss from a mid 2000's Relapse Records release. The song is one of the more turbo-charged offerings on the album and contains LOUD, DISTORTED and filthy RIFFS to get fully behind.
Fourth song Bones To Dust continues with the Sludge/Doom/Stoner/Hardcore hybrid approach that Battalions have adopted for this album. Not as bleak or aggressive when compared to the other tracks on the album. Well, the vocals are but the music is more approachable whilst still being brutally heavy. The music is catchy, fantastically melodic and quite trippy in places with the band bringing a slight Mastodon influence to the mix.
The record sees Battalions go into OVERDRIVE with more brutally pitched sounds, growls and grooves played across stunning tracks such as: No Safe Place, Parasite and King Of A Dead World. The band takes bold creative risks on songs Parasite and King Of A Dead World. As the tone of the album moves further into heavier areas of Blackened Sludge, Doom and Stoner Metal.
You begin to realise what an excellent and genuinely exciting record King Of A Dead World actually is. With a plethora of outstanding riffs that make this an action packed release from start to finish. The album is without doubt Battalions best album to date that offers the heaviest and most fucked up sounds of their career to date.
King Of A Dead World is a first-rate album and could see the band's stock rise considerably within the global Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene.
Battalions and APF Records have released a FUCKING MONSTER.....
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Simon at For The Lost PR for the promo.
King Of A Dead World is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via APF Records from October 21st 2022.
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