EP REVIEW: Sorge – Sorge

The independent scene is a vast, growing community which our team at Distorted Sound take great pride in championing. This time round is in the form of Washington’s own SORGE who have just made their self titled EP available via digital release with a physical release due at a later date. The stoner movement was crafted and perfected in the US, will SORGE be able to continue this storied lineage?

Faith Of A Heretic commences with a bleak, dark atmosphere as vocals are introduced that display a distinct fragility and rawness that draws you in. The track is quite minimalist in its construction, tinkering with various stylings as it progresses. It begins to pick up pace towards the latter stages by throwing some inviting synths, frantic solo work and infectious grooves into the mix. A Horse In Turin exhibits signature stoner vibes with fuzzy guitar work, sturdy bass lines and emphatic drum beats as it casually plods along. The eccentric vocal delivery is particularly captivating. Haunting synth work lurks around in the background to amplify the soundscape. The track unleashes a frenzied burst of intensity which catches you unawares.

Argent continues the doom entrenched mood with sludgy riff segments alongside chillingly emotive vocal passages. The instrumentation is fairly laid-back and barring the odd spurt of experimentation kind of feels like it is gliding through the motions. Astral Burnout regains your wavering attention with a confident stride and enticing melodies.  Oozing with vintage stoner lead work and a tense brooding tone that effortlessly joins forces with passionate vocal pieces SORGE are definitely at their most formidable when the tempo starts to quicken. It is almost a shame that this track had to end.

If you enjoy the thought of being whisked away on a cloud of distortion then there is plenty to appreciate within this release. At times it can feel a little nonchalant as minutes pass you by without a great deal unfolding but when SORGE get in the groove they can certainly hit that sweet spot. It would be intriguing to see how they would approach the construction of a longer release as there are plenty of skills at their disposal.

Rating: 8/10

Sorge is out now via self-release.

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