Release Date: November 03rd 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD
SLUGGU - Tracklisting
1.Lord Gastropod 04:08
2.Whoreslug 04:20
3.Satan's Little Trotters 04:29
4.Rumors Of War 02:57
Review
SLUGGU is the new EP from Norwegian Sludge/Stoner Metallers JAGGU who impressed me earlier this year with their last album Rites For The Damned. I described JAGGU’s overall sound to early era Mastodon and Baroness but with a more ferocious Psychedelic Doom and Alternative Metal twist. Well the guys have returned with SLUGGU and it seems the band dominate the Progressive Sludge/Stoner Metal landscape with a release that is even more ferocious compared to their last album.
There’s a more Punk Rock and Metallic edge to this EP with the band drawing upon bands such as SLIPKNOT and LAMB OF GOD. The music has a classic sounding early 2000’s Alt Metal sound with despairing vocals from start to finish. JAGGU also draws upon the Post-Doom and Post-Gothic sounds that are played on the EP’s two opening tracks of Lord Gastropod and Whoreslug.
Progressive Sludge Grooves are delivered with reckless abandonment whilst still being quite melodic with an air of KVELERTAK dominance starting to appear especially with the Sludge/Punk driven moments of the EP. SLUGGU offers JAGGU the perfect opportunity to play a more experimental style of intense vocals and extended sludgy guitars which can be too overbearing at times but never boring.
The final two tracks Satan’s Little Trotters and Rumors Of War are the heaviest tracks of the EP with the vocals going into Harsh Growl territory but JAGGU still allow the EP to have a sinister level of fun with the grooves being played at a ferocious pace.
SLUGGU is an absolute delight and allows JAGGU once again to showcase what a KICK-ASS band they really are to the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal underground scene.
Excellent and Highly Recommended.
Words by Steve Howe
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