Release Date: October 06th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
Goliath Worm - Tracklisting
1.Goliath Worm
2.Grub Acolyte
3.Larvicide
Members
Anthony Santoro - Guitars
Jeff Perlman - Bass
Calvin Schaller - Drums
Review
Goliath Worm is the new EP from Sludge/Stoner Metallers Sun King Ba who impressed greatly last year on their debut EP Writhing Mass. This EP sees the band continuing their Progressive based journey which should appeal to bands such as Mastodon, Shrinebuilder, Restless Spirit and Summoner. Sun King Ba play with a more thunderous vision on this EP with a heavy metallic gloomy sound which allows the band to add different levels of Progressive heaviness especially on the stunning opening track Goliath Worm.
Goliath Worm sees the band taking creative cues from Baroness (Blue Record era) and with that intense Mastodon progressive swagger for a song that allows Sun King Ba to play different levels of Psychedelic heaviness. The song is quite melodic with Anthony’s vibrant and thick guitar sound that brings more focus to Calvin’s sublime drumming. Jeff’s bass has a dominant presence which holds everything together.
With this being a full instrumental EP, Sun King Ba play some damn fine original ideas of their own which you can hear within the excellent second track Grub Acolyte. This time round Sun King Ba weaves Post-Rock aesthetics with a more forceful DOOM & GLOOM sound before playing a stripped back style of Post-Stoner grooves that adds a catchy element to the EP. The sludgy backdrop is never too far behind with Sun King Ba being quite content with the world-building qualities that the song ultimately contains.
Third song Larvicide is the heaviest and sludgiest track on the EP with Sun King Ba bringing some technical riff wizardry along the way. There’s a cool sideline of Noise Rock aggression which works surprisingly well with the instrumental sounds the band lay down here. The track ends on the EP on a mighty fine and satisfying conclusion.
Just like their debut EP, the legendary Steve Albini has engineered this release with Greg Obis on mastering duties. So that adds another layer of unexpected heaviness to the EP and allows Sun King Ba to be considered one of the best upcoming Instrumental Sludge/Stoner Metal bands within the underground scene and I can’t wait to hear what they’ll unleash on a more substantial release with perhaps their debut full length album that I’m eagerly awaiting to here.
However, Goliath Worm is a gigantic sounding release that will only see Sun King Ba’s reputation rise to greater heights within the Sludge/Stoner Metal community.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Sun King Ba for the promo.
Goliath Worm will be available to buy digitally from October 06th 2023.
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