ALBUM REVIEW: Pure Humber Sludge – Battalions

Sludge lords BATTALIONS return with a remastering (by Chris Fielding of CONAN) of their first two albums in celebration of 10 years in the business. Despite having no new music to offer, per se, Pure Humber Sludge is a glorious celebration of their legacy, giving these anthems of sludgery the reworkings they deserve.

Pure Humber Sludge, the double album starts with A Coward’s Manifesto, an explosive opener, but it’s not until Hoods Up, Knives Out that the record is really kicked into gear. This song is a true battle cry in which the masterful hands of CONAN’s Chris Fielding can definitely be heard. It’s a thick, gritty track in which the rage and power of this band can really be heard and understood.

Whiskey & Wine sees the band interspersing brutally slow riffs with some serious headbanging sections, all held together with a fun-loving attitude. These guys certainly don’t take themselves too seriously and it’s great to see. The heaviness is brought throughout this track and the mixing of different tempos makes this a real career highlight.

There are times where the band’s sound begins to wear a little thin, however. The breakdown section in Shitstorm Troopers is incredibly predictable – but then again, the song would probably be lost without it. The vocals sound slightly tired in tracks such as Betrayal/Delusion, but it can almost (almost, but not quite) be forgiven, given the absolute attack of energetic and larynx-shattering screams this guy has absolutely let rip throughout the rest of the record. 

The second half of this double record marks an evolution in the band’s sound in a pretty audible way, moving away from straightforward sludge into more punk-influenced territory. We are back in familiar territory, however, with Moonburn, a song with huge, heavy riffage based in blues-y rock and roll, and flavoured with a touch of brutalistic vocals. Perfection.

Still proving their versatility until the very end, last track Another Meaning for Death takes us into doomier/stonier territory, and even smacks of bands like UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS in the laziness of the riffs and the playing with phrase length. A late-in-the-game standout. The outro cements the band’s sound as one of intrigue and constant surprise, with Wild West elements taking cues from doom legends EARTH.

Fielding’s touch throughout the album allows these songs to breathe and live more. It’s a real pleasure to hear the difference and hear these songs being injected with the new lease of life that they deserve. It’s a much clearer, fuller sound which will please all the audiophilers and sludge connoisseurs out there.

A sludge band with the cheeky personalities of any beer and riff-loving lad you might see down the pub, listening to BATTALIONS is like discovering a new group of mates and holing up in a bedroom with some tinnies, taking it in turns with the aux lead. Fun, brutal and energetic; this band really has everything you would want in a sludge band who consistently refuse to take themselves too seriously. A very fun listen and we’re glad these guys are getting the reappraisal they clearly deserve. Cheers!

Rating: 8/10

Pure Humber Sludge is set for release on July 17th via APF Records.

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