EP REVIEW: Sacred Crimson – King Corpse
Sludge metal is one of the more peculiar sub-genres within heavy metal. From heavyweights like EYEHATEGOD, MELVINS and CROWBAR which one could argue laid the groundwork of the style to more recent bands like BARONESS and MASTODON, who incorporated sprinklings of sludge to their sonic racket, the moniker that is sludge metal is quite the complicated beast. So, where do KING CORPSE sit in the genre with their new EP Sacred Crimson?
Well, as it turns out, KING CORPSE walk the tightrope, borrowing from the genre’s rich tapestry of sounds into the brand of metal. Across the eight tracks that comprise the EP, the Black Country trio ebb and flow from dense passages of riff-laden metal to more experimental numbers, and the result is, on the whole, largely impressive.
Exhumation, the first and strongest track on the EP, packs an almighty punch as the band deploy slick and impactful riffs that are jam-packed full of neat grooves and the clever use of tempo, particularly as the track ups the ante in its closing moments, showcases the quality within KING CORPSE‘s ranks and kicks off the EP in the strongest possible manner whilst Drowning turns the band’s sound on its head with a sound that almost feels reminiscent of a QUEEN OF THE STONE AGE B-side as the fluttering guitar-play allows Jack Cradock‘s vocals to sound crisp and clear throughout its duration. Whilst the tracks can be praised on their individual merits, however, their placement next to each other feels jarring, disrupting the overall flow of the record.
In fact, this is the biggest issue with Sacred Crimson as a body of work. Whilst songs on their own individual basis, as a whole, the EP just lacks enough conviction to stand as a body of work one can enjoy from start to finish, you’ll find that you will be dipping in and out rather than staying for the entire duration. Niggles aside, there is quality here with Sacred Crimson, quality which indicates that KING CORPSE are showing potential to stand out in the crowd. Climb My Bones boasts some wicked guitar-work, arguably some of the finest riffs that the band have ever produced as the swinging rhythms ebb and flow with enough force to capture your attention and the harmonised vocals work a treat.
Equally, the colossal Sons of Mourning is an absolute beast of a track as the dense doom-driven riffs swing with enough force to shake a venue’s foundation to its core before subsiding into a gorgeous instrumental medley that demonstrates the band’s ability to go down the experimental route. It’s a breath of fresh air and demonstrates that whilst KING CORPSE certainly fall under the sludge tag, they are far from a one trick pony.
Sacred Crimson is certainly an ambitious record, one in which KING CORPSE certainly have gone above and beyond to demonstrate just what they are about. And with that comes both positives and negatives. On the positive, one can certainly attain that KING CORPSE are a rather unique proposition but, with so many ideas explored across the release, there is a case that the band are victims to their own lofty ambitions. That, and with five brand new songs and three re-mastered cuts from older material, there is also the question as whether there is too much on offer here for the uninitiated to sink their teeth into, and that the EP could have benefited with some of the fat being trimmed down.
Overall though, Sacred Crimson does enough to justify KING CORPSE landing a signal on your radar. There is a lot of quality on offer here and the band showcase enough potential to warrant attention moving forward. With some refinement and a more streamlined focus, KING CORPSE‘s momentum could surge forwards.
Rating: 6/10
Sacred Crimson is out now via self-release.
Like KING CORPSE on Facebook.
