Release
date: August 31st
2017.
Label: APF Records. Format: CD/DD
BORK
– Tracklisting
1.Agony
2.Nil By Mouth 04:35
3.Everything Equals
Death
4.Threats
5.Tumour
6.Eternal Regret
Members
Jim Hodge - growls
Michael Shepherd -
drums
Phil Johnson -
guitar
James Andrew Lee -
guitar
Dan Dolby - bass
Review
You expect something heavy and
brutal from a band with a name like Mastiff. As the band merge
Doom/Sludge Metal sounds that is built upon a frenzied hardcore and
pissed off rage. I missed the band's debut album Wrank which was
released in 2016. Their new EP – BORK – and their first for
upcoming UK Hard Rock/Metal label – APF Records – is a quite a
pummelling experience that showcases the bands angry and ferocious
nature to superb effect.
Opening track – Agony – starts
with a fast-paced hardcore riff with Mastiff playing quite a complex
sound with elements of Sludge/Doom based moments appearing at
different parts of the song. The growls from lead vocalist from Jim
range from clean based to the more harsher death based growls. I
don't have a clue what he's signing about but he's very good at what
he does.
Second track – Nil By Mouth – is
an even more angrier song with the band moving further into the
Sludge Metal world with the drumming adding a confident hardcore
sound. The vocals have an even more depressing feel as Mastiff aren't
afraid of creating a depressing atmosphere that takes no prisoners.
Mastiff do provide moments of sludgy grooves on this track that shows
they can slow the mood right down and play a more restrained style of
hard rock/metal.
Third track – Everything Equals
Death – is perhaps the most scariest, angriest, heaviest and
filthiest song on the EP. It's an exercise in pure doom/death/sludge
metal destruction. There's nothing complex about this song. This is
Mastiff showing the world how rightly pissed off they are. Harsh
vocals and down-tempo riffs reign supreme.
The other songs on the EP –
Threats, Tumour and Eternal Regret – carry on the torturous and
sinister message that Mastiff expertly create. The music does have a
stop-start approach on some of the songs but it's the sheer technical
ability that Mastiff possess that will impress you the most.
The production is fragile and very raw but that's the point of BORK. As Mastiff don't want to be that super and over-produced metal band. They want to be a rough and ready sludge metal powerhouse where the music counts for itself. They succeed on that level alone with pure talent and hard-hitting conviction.
The production is fragile and very raw but that's the point of BORK. As Mastiff don't want to be that super and over-produced metal band. They want to be a rough and ready sludge metal powerhouse where the music counts for itself. They succeed on that level alone with pure talent and hard-hitting conviction.
Mastiff leave you brutally
demoralised and shaking in the corner wondering what the FUCK did you
just listen to. BORK is simply an outstanding slice of UK Sludge/Doom
Metal brutality.
Words
by Steve Howe
Thanks
to APF Records for the promo. BORK will be released on CD/DD via APFRecords from August 31st
2017.
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