Thursday, 25 April 2024

Ten Ton Slug - Colossal Oppressor (Album Review)

Release Date: May 01st 2024. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl

Colossal Oppressor - Tracklisting

1.The Ooze

2.Balor

3.Ancient Ways 05:24

4.Brutus

5.Mindless and Blind 06:06

6.Ghosts of the Ooze

7.Mallacht an tSloda

8.Mogore the Unkind


Members

 

Sean Sullivan

Rónán Ó hArrachtáin

Mícheál O Súilleabháin

Pavol Rosa


Review


Doom/Sludge Metallers Ten Ton Slug debut album Colossal Compressor is a record packed full of Groove Laden harsh melodies and filth ridden angst with the band focusing upon brutal storytelling which comes through their brutal based vocals. With a record that focuses upon the more angst and primal delivery of Doom/Sludge Metal with moments of Psychedelic aggression which does become quite progressive along the way.


Taking creative cues and reasoning from bands such as Metallica, Lamb Of God, EYEHATEGOD, Crowbar and Mastodon though remaining true to their creative selves. Ten Ton Slug blast their way through a neverending succession of brutal beats and thrash environments that strike FEAR into the modern day Sludge Metal underground scene with it’s uncompromising creative vision and intense production values.


Songs such as The Ooze, Bolder and Ancient Ways allows Ten Ton Slug to play a dominant style of music where the harsh vocals paint an unsettling picture with the non-stop blast beats focusing into more substantial levels of Thrash, Doom and Sludge Metal movements where the band are more than willing to play highly melodic strands of modern day Groove Metal. The lyrics are quite insightful and straight to the point even when they venture into the more surreal attitudes of the Heavy Metal scene.


Colossal Oppressor knows when to let the foot off the gas and play some epic Hard Rock guitar shredding instead of the usual style of FUCKED UP and filthy heavy instrumental moments. The vocals are quite harsh, abrasive and downright ugly at times but at least they’re quite easy to understand so you can easily join with the action and sing along to the pissed off atmosphere that Ten Ton Slug expertly create throughout.


Other standout tracks include: Brutus, Mindless And Blind, Ghosts Of The Ooze and Magore The Unkind where things become slightly fantastical but it’s great to see Ten Ton Slug create a different narrative for the second half of the record. The sound is still quite violent and stomach churning but the band’s use of Thrash/Groove/Sludge Metal beats just makes you feel part of the action more and more.


Colossal Oppressor is an absolute MONSTER of an album that Ten Ton Slug should rightly be proud of. As this could be their ticket onto bigger and better things within the next 18 months or so.


Words by Steve Howe


Thanks to Ten Ton Slug for the promo.


Colossal Oppressor will be available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via from Wednesday 01st May 2024.


Links


Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram