Dirt Forge - Interspheral (Album Review)

Date Released: November 11th 2022. Record Label: Majestic Mountain Records. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

Interspheral: Tracklisting

1.The Observer

2.Highest Low 

3.Ascension 

4.Moralterations

5.Left In The Lurch

6.Miscommunision

7.Descension

Members

Yannick Kristensen - Bass, Vocals (backing)

Nicolai Lomholt - Drums

Alexander Kolby - Guitars, vocals

Review

Sludge/Doom/Stoner Metal mob Dirt Forge return with their new album Interspheral and the band have aligned themselves to ace underground label Majestic Mountain Records. The album sees the band play a more proggier style of music compared to their 2017 debut album. Heavy down-tuned psychedelic grooves are the main order of business with harsh growls/vocals being used to tell the band’s full creative vision. With a Post-Metal identity allowing Dirt Forge to adapt a more Psychedelic and Gloomier style of music that sees the band adapting sounds that have a slight YOB, CONAN, Mastodon and ISIS (The Band) to them.

Opening song The Observer is a sensational Post-Gloom And Doom offering that brings the harsh environments of the Sludge/Stoner Metal underground that becomes even heavier when the Psychedelic and Post-Rock elements collide for a more nuanced approach. There’s riffs to be found with Dirt Forge aiming for a more classic sounding Post-Metal feeling that allows the band to play extended progressive jams that feel bang on point. Add the intense free flowing vocals and Dirt Forge are off to a very highly confident start.

Second song Highest Low carries on the Post-Whatever and Gloom And Doom message of the album with Dirt Forge playing a more progressive WEEDIAN style of music that has a Post-Metallic and Hardcore edge to the song. Jagged and multi-layered sounds have been added that allows Dirt Forge to play a song that’s beautifully chaotic and heavy whilst retaining a sense of modern purpose with finely played distorted psychedelic grooves.

Third song Ascension opens with a gloomy ice cold Post-Rock/Post-Doom atmosphere that moves into areas of swirling Psychedelic Rock/Metal and intriguing sound effects that soon give way to Dirt Forge’s normal bombastic heavy stylish grooves. Once again moving between the Hardcore and Psychedelic areas of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal, the song has some fantastic instrumental work with a simple melodic structure but one that remains highly effective which Dirt Forge use to the best of their creative ability.

Fourth song Moralterations is an Ambient/Psych based instrumental number with Dirt Forge playing a song that has a deep John Carpenter feel with the gloomy synths and caustic voiceover adding a true DOOM based feeling to the album.  Though the last part of the track has one of the best riffs on the album which took me by surprise. Quite suspenseful and left me wanting to hear more from this great track.

The final three tracks - Left In The Lurch, Miscommunision and Descension match the genuine excitement of the first half with Dirt Forge embracing their “DOOM METAL” creative identity with heavier and distorted slabs of intense Psych Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal.

Left In The Lurch has perhaps the best vocal arrangements on the album with first rate lyrics to match with the music being quite suspenseful in places. Maybe, not as fast-paced as the first half of the album but this is where Dirt Forge play the heaviest and intense sounds of the album which are all contained within the twelve minutes standout track of Miscommunsion.

Interspheral is a thought-provoking and brilliantly heavy album that packs an almighty punch which is backed up by first rate production values. The album does have a slightly solitary feel but you can feel the intensity of every riff bursting out at the seams that allows Dirt Forge to stake their claim at releasing one of the best albums of the year. 

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Sheltered Life PR for the promo.

Interspheral will be released on CD/DD/Cassette/Vinyl via Majestic Mountain Records from November 11th 2022.

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Majestic Mountain Records Announce: Dirt Forge - Interspheral PRE-ORDER on Friday September 23rd 2022

PRE-ORDER OPENS September 23rd at 19:00 CET/1pm EDT/10am PDT/6pm BST

THE FIRST 150 ORDERS WILL COME WITH A SIGNED POSTER (Album Artwork)! Put the right product (with poster) in your shopping cart to get the poster edition!

Majestic Mountain Records are pleased to announce the signing of Copenhagen’s brutal, hardcore sludge merchants, Dirt Forge! 

‘Interspheral’ will be released digitally, and on CD and cassette on the 11th of November. Vinyl to follow soon and information on that will be forthcoming!

Majestic is thrilled to welcome Dirt Forge into the fold and we are extremely proud of the incredible release they have produced which will, of course, receive the full Majestic treatment.

Dirt Forge have hammered out a monster of an album with ‘Interspehral,’ and throughout each of the seven tracks, their sludgy crucible boils over with molten aggression flowing pyroclastically from a gorgeously chaotic and heaving mass of hardcore, post-metallic heart.

Relentlessly bludgeoning waves of torrential tone and chugging, rhythmic pressure ebb and flow effortlessly between righteously thrilling riffing and abyssally cavernous walls of mercilessly crushing atmosphere in both scale and mood but also in the textural sense, exceptionally positioned between bestially brutal bashing teetering on the edge of utter collapse and near-constant, deeply discordant vocal animosity.
This is THE heavy, folks.

Interspheral comes in

Blue and yellow merge with green splatter
180-gram heavyweight vinyl
Single sleeve with 3mm spine
Full color insert
Black poly-lined inner sleeve
Protective plastic sleeve
33 rpm heaviness
150 first with a signed poster!

Tracklisting;

1. The Observer
2. Highest Low
3. Ascension
4. Moralterations
5. Left In The Lurch
6. Miscommunision
7. Descension

Dirt Forge is:

Yannick Kristensen - Bass, Vocals (backing)
Nicolai Lomholt - Drums
Alexander Kolby - Guitars, vocals

All songs written and performed by Dirt Forge
Recorded, mixed and produced bt Lasse Ballade at Ballade Studios
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege
Album artwork by Marald Art
Layout by Alexander Kolby

First single 'Ascension', taken from the new album 'Interspheral'

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for all of the details.

Dirt Forge Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp

Majestic Mountain Records Links:

Facebook | BandCamp | BigCartel

Dirt Forge - Soothsayer (Album Review)

Release date: May 30^th 2017. Label: Self Released. Format: DD/Vinyl

Soothsayer – Tracklisting

1.Rust & Copper 07:04

2.Fortress Burning 05:25

3.Bring Me Good Noose 08:28

4.Intet Tabt, Intet Hændt 01:30

5.Stone 04:25

6.Soothsayer I: The Blind 06:59

7.Soothsayer II: Die Waiting 05:29

8.Soothsayer III: For Our End 05:46

Band Members:

Alex//Yannick//Nicolai

Review

Dirt Forge unleashes their brutally heavy new album - Soothsayer. A mixture of sludge, doom and post-metallic riffs with the vocals adding a hardcore edge. Fans of High Of Fire will perhaps enjoy this album the most as Dirt Forge play a similar kind of Sludge Metal. Though the band adds elements of Doom and Post-Metal sounds on different parts of the album.

Opening track - Rust & Copper - is part aggression and part melody with the emphasis firmly on being heavy and loud. The lyrics are firmly rooted in Doom Metal and that allows the band to create a slightly depressing atmosphere, which is what you want with a band such as Dirt Forge. The band even manages to find time to include some Yob style doom metal theatrics towards the end of the song. A welcome addition to Dirt Forge's already addictive sound.

Second track - Fortress Burning - opens with a calmer riff with the song slowly creating different levels of doomier sounds before the heavier riffs appear. The mood becomes more volatile as the music is played at a fast pace. The song follows the same path as the opening track but one that allows the band to try their hand playing Stoner Metal. It's a groovier and heavier sound and harks back to the earlier days of High On Fire. The vocals range from hardcore based growls to a calmer and quieter approach which suits the music quite well. Especially when Dirt Forge slow things right down. It allows the song and album to flow naturally. Though it wouldn't be a true Doom/Sludge Metal album if the heavy sounds stayed away for good.

Third track - Bring Me Good Noose - is perhaps the heaviest and gloomiest track on the album. The lyrics once again impress from the start. Dirt Forge start to prove they're a band worth giving a damn about. The song may have a simple premise but the band execute this with precise timing and delivery. This song is perhaps the standout track on the album as the band even add moments of traditional rock and roll for a more rocking atmosphere. Imagine a sludgier version of Red Fang and you have the direction of where Dirt Forge feel and sound like on this song.

Dirt Forge continue with their heavy Doom/Sludge sound on five other great songs on the album such as: Stone and the blistering three part Soothsayer mini sludge rock opus. Dirt Forge has created a wildly addictive album that oozes violent charm and confidence. The album is packed full of murky progressive sludge/doom sounds and a whole lot of attitude to match.

The production is excellent throughout as the sound is clear from the start. Dirt Forge take influence from many of the current big-hitters from today's scene, however they still manage to put their own stamp of authority on this spellbinding album.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp