Sky Pig - Hell Is Inside You (by Mikey Ortega)

Label: Transylvanian Recordings

Format: CD/Cassette/Digital

Release Date: August 16, 2020

 

Tracklist: 

1.  Gimp

2.  The Scag

3.  Save Yourself

4.  The Strain

 

It’s pretty safe to say that the presence of Neurosis can be heard in the heavy underground. For more than 10 years, I’ve been hearing many bands, bring that apocalyptic sound and crush eardrums across every music venue and every year, it seems that someone in the sludge and post-metal scene, always comes and changes the game. In comes Sky Pig – a sludge band from Sacramento, that takes the genre to a deeper, darker, and psychedelic experience.  Last year, the band put out their 2^nd EP, Hell Is Inside You (which is celebrating its anniversary, this month), and these four tracks sure pack a punch.

 

The EP opens with “Gimp” – which sets everything up and lets you know what in for. The track begins with a spacey-psychedelic sound, before that riff kicks in and you can’t help but bang along. We are then followed with a sick guitar chug to start “The Scag”. This track has a killer death rock influence, that gives Sky Pig more of a darker and brooding edge.  Especially with lyrics like “You Sold Your Soul/ Your Reward Is This Affliction/ Broken Mind, Writhing Soul/ Lost Inside Your Dead Reflection”. “Save Yourself” is the track that gets me going. If there is one Sky Pig song that I suggest people to check out, it would be this.  To me – this song is a perfect mix of sludge/doom and death rock. From the opening bass line to the guitar effects and tone, the gloomy vocals and Scott Kelly-esque screams, this is the sound that defines Sky Pig. And finally, we end it with the epic, “The Strain”. A perfect closer for such a crushing EP. When you hear a phaser on that guitar, you know you’re in for a trip. This may be the “last ride”, but I’m hoping for more Sky Pig in the future.

 

For an EP, Hell Is Inside You, really feels like a full-length. Every track pack a punch, that it will make the Earth shake. It’s a psychedelic trip to an apocalyptic Hell, you would think you’re in a Ken Russell film. Or a more fucked up version of Dante’s Inferno. The production really brings out that hell world to life. As if you can feel Armageddon being upon us.  Really excited to see what Sky Pig cooks up next.  They are a band that has a sound, that will leave a mark in doom and sludge. If anything, Hell Is Inside You is proof that you shouldn’t sleep on Sky Pig.

 

The Hand Of God/ Been Snuffed In The Cradle/ Your Hope And Resistance/ Is Bigger Than His World

 

Follow Sky Pig on all social media platforms and check out Hell Is Inside You on Bandcamp 

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/skypigdoom

Instagram - @skypigsludge

Bandcamp - https://skypigband.bandcamp.com/

Evulse - Pustulant Spawn EP

Labels: Dawnbreed Records/Transylvanian Recordings/Godz Ov War Productions

Formats: Tape/Digital/CD

Release Date: 04 Sep 2020

Tracklist:

1. Repulsive Infestation

2. Pustulant Spawn

3. Depraved Sanctity

4. Worms Made Flesh

There's currently a tsunami of death metal ravaging the underground. As cheesy as that opening line sounds, it's pretty accurate given how many death metal bands are reaching people's ears. We're experiencing it in the UK with bands including Slimelord, Celestial Sanctuary, Mortuary Spawn etc; while the US is constantly producing bands is large quantities. California's Evulse are a new name to me but they've been around since 2018, when they released their first demo/ep Call Of The Void. It was released on multiple formats by Dawnbreed Records (vinyl), Transylvanian Recordings (tape/digital) and Godz Ov War Productions (cd/digital). 

In September of last year, Evulse joined forces with Dawnbreed Records and Transylvanian Recordings again to release their latest EP Pustulant Spawn on tape and digitally, while in February just gone they released a cd version, once again with Godz Ov War Productions. Those that make up Evulse are no slouches when it comes to extreme metal either, as they currently play or have played in a list of bands as long as your arm!

You’d be forgiven for thinking that this was some kind of gore-death release and given it’s title, that’s understandable but what Evulse actually gives you is a nasty old-school slab of death metal with grinding tendencies on EP opener ‘Repulsive Infestation’. The instrumentation looms large, especially the guitars, while the growling vocals have that raspy lower-register sound that’s at home alongside the bass/drum work. The title-track ‘Pustulant Spawn’ comes at you with immediate force. It’s a short song but there’s no skimping on musicality as the metallic lead riffs show later on. There is a doom-like edge to it as well, adding more of a murky atmosphere.

The second half of the EP is very much more blink-and-you’ll-miss-it. ‘Depraved Sanctity’ plays on Evulse’s grinding intensity a heap more, with higher tempos and driving percussion. The bass and guitars are tuned down yet there’s room for some screeching riffs and an undercurrent of melody too. An ear worm if ever there was one. Talking of worms, EP closer ‘Worms Made Flesh’ winds things up with an evil flair that’s impossible to ignore. Gathering up all of Evulse’s song-writing elements and strengths, it shows exactly what they’re about in a very precise way.

As far as death metal goes, this is definitely a memorable release. It remains to be seen whether the genre will become over-saturated again but until that point, Evulse and others will continue to grow and on this evidence that can only be a good thing!

You can stream and purchase Pustulant Spawn digitally via Godz Ov War Productions below:-

Evulse - https://www.facebook.com/Evulsingdeath

Physical copies can be purchased from the labels below:-

Dawnbreed Records (tapes) - https://www.dawnbreed.com/nl

Transylvanian Recordings (tapes) - https://transylvaniantapes.bandcamp.com

Godz Ov War Productions (cds) - https://godzovwar.com

Dawnbreed Records - https://www.facebook.com/DawnbreedRecords

Transylvanian Recordings - https://www.facebook.com/TransylvanianRecordings

Godz Ov War Productions - https://www.facebook.com/godzovwar