JAGGU - SLUGGU (EP Review)

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

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

JAGGU - Rites For The Damned (Album Review)

Release Date: January 27th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Rites For The Damned: Tracklisting

1.Carnage 03:49

2.Earth Murder 04:00

3.Mindgap 04:30

4.Electric Blood 06:22

5.Lenina Ave 06:40

6.Enthralled 05:28

7.Marching Stride 04:55

8.God To Be Through 04:41

Review

JAGGU is a new discovery for me and I fell in love with their bombastic style of Progressive Psych/Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal that reminds me of Mastodon and Baroness but with JAGGU playing a more alternative style of music. Their new album Rites For The Damned has a similar feeling to Crack The Skye with its use of Trance inducing Psych grooves and Progressive Metal beats.

Opening song Carnage lasts under four minutes but feels twice as long with JAGGU using different melodic structures against multiple psychedelic backdrops with the music being quite catchy and aggressive at the same time. There is a sense of Modern Day Rock/Metal within JAGGU’s music and their addictive lyrics only add to this effect. The music is quite harsh in places and becomes more exciting when the band switch to a more mellow style of Psych Rock/Metal that has a Post-Stoner or Post-Doom vibe.

Second song Earth Murder sees JAGGU continue with their Progressive Stoner/Sludge journey with a more hardcore feeling with Mastodon-esque grooves but still allowing JAGGU to do their own thing. The vocals are an inspired choice giving the band a meaner attitude. The music is quite cinematic in places but JAGGU still maintains a chaotic edge when the band plays a faster style. The song has some epic breakdowns and multiple changes within the creative dynamics of the song.

Third song Mindgap is a song I had the most issues with originally. As I felt JAGGU overstretched themselves here with the different styles of music they employ here. However, after a few listens I started to enjoy the song much more especially with the trippy and progressive riffs that appear throughout the song. The song has an Alt Rock approach with the vocals being quite different in places. JAGGU added elements of Space Rock and Stadium Rock into the mix for this song and there’s some wonderful guitar solos that bring a sense of impending DOOM into the overall sound and feel of the album.

Fourth song Electric Blood is where JAGGU impressed me the most with their use of Hardcore growls and clean based vocals. The song feels inspired by MUSE and DEVIN TOWNSEND with the music still being firmly within the Doom/Sludge/Stoner Metal environment. The song is mighty Progressive with JAGGU perhaps playing one of the album's standout tracks. 

The second half of Rites For The Damned is just as exciting and crazed as the first half with JAGGU bringing a Post-Metal effect on this part of the album especially on tracks such as Lenina Ave, Marching Stride and God To Be Through. #

JJAGGU show they’re highly talented and fantastic musicians on Rites For The Damned. They have written some truly outstanding complex songs for this album and have some epic creative ideas of their own to gain further attention within the underground scene.

Rites For The Damned is an unexpected delight and is worthy to be added to anyone’s record collection like it has with mine.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram