Release Date: June 20th 2025. Record Label: Ripple Music. Formats: CD/DD/Vinyl
Chaos And Catastrophes - Tracklisting
1. Conjure
2. Contagion
3. Ravine
4. Ennui
5. Prophecy
Members
Nico Schmutz - guitars
Justin Morgan - guitars
Matt Amott - drums
Dylan Wills - bass
Paul Dudziak - vocals
Review
Chaos And Catastrophes is the debut album from Sludge/Stoner Metallers Ravine who are from Portland, Oregon and made up of veterans from the local heavy metal scene there. Look at the line up and you have members who have been part of bands such as Mammoth Salmon, Brick Bath, Doomsover and Skulldozer. Ravine plays mostly Sludge/Stoner Metal influenced by the classic NOLA scene with bands such as CROWBAR, DOWN, and EYEHATEGOD. However, if you also dig MOTORHEAD, PANTERA and HIGH ON FIRE then that’s how Ravine sounds in places.
The record can be deceptively heavy, filthy and seedy but also with a modern thuggish Speed Metal attitude that gives away to some classic Eighties HEAVY METAL guitars being played just for the sheer hell of it. Chaos And Catastrophes is pure HEAVY METAL EXCESS with the band writing some epic lengthy jams along the way with the opening track of Conjure running past the ten minutes mark. The NOLA influence comes on pretty late on Conjure but allows Ravine to play some of the heaviest, thickest and sweetest jams on the whole album which left me in musical VALHALLA.
The vocals from Paul Dudziak are from the OLD SCHOOL of HEAVY METAL with his stripped back delivery chewing the musical environment and scenery around him which fully sells the whole NOLA vision from Ravine even though they’re from Portland, Oregon. The lyrics can be quite destructive and nihilistic which is perhaps where the EYEHATEGOD comparisons come into play.
Ravine plays a wide assortment of fast-paced and slow-to-mid style grooves which leaves little to the imagination at times especially on tracks such as Contagion, Ravine and Prophecy. The SPEED METAL and THRASH METAL aspect of Ravine’s music is fully fleshed out here with traces of Classic Doom and subversive Psychedelic passages which the band have expertly called “POWER GROOVE” and I fucking love that description. This gives the album a more PRIMAL sound and creative attitude whilst keeping with it’s no holds barred and stripped back production qualities that allows the music to grow more violently and quite demonic in places.
The shortest track on the album Ravine runs for over seven minutes with the other tracks lasting around ten minutes in length. However, there’s no sign of Progressive Metal tricks on Chaos And Catastrophes as Ravine rely on real PRIMAL energy which manifests into a wide assortment of KICK-ASS Heavy Metal grooves and intense instrumental solos that Ravine deserve credit for especially the superb guitar playing by Nico Schmutz and Justin Morgan. They’re backed up by a supremely talented rhythm section of Dylan Wills (Bass) and Matt Arnott (Drums) who know when to let their NOLA and HEAVY METAL creative instincts kick in for some of the heaviest and freshest moments on the whole album.
Chaos And Catastrophes is an album for METALHEADS created by METALHEADS. So you know what to expect when everything is said and done. As Ravine have crafted a classic sounding HEAVY METAL album in the purest sense and what more else could you possibly want.
This is another fantastic sounding release from the mighty RIPPLE MUSIC who once again prove why they’re the dominant label within the underground scene.
Words by Steve Howe
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for the promo.
Chaos And Catastrophes is available to buy on CD/DD/Vinyl via Ripple Music.
Links
