The American South has one fine legacy
of music; from country, to outlaw rock'n'roll, to swampy metal. This
last entry has its origins in the wasteland of post-thrash metal and
spawned legendary names in the genre such as Eyehategod and Crowbar.
They have left an indelible legacy and have helped to pave the ways
for bands like BlackTusk from 21st century metal hotspot
Savannah, Georgia. This impressive trio come armed with a crunching
sonic assault and the breathless percussive energy that gives sludge
its indomitable edge. Their new Tend No Wounds EP is the
follow-up to 2011's Set the Dial and looks to carry forward on
that rush of momentum. All the parts are in place for BlackTusk to
make their mark.
While many of the original Georgia
sludge proponents have left the swamp, BlackTusk are one of the ones
that have stayed behind and kept the home fires blazing. They may not
have the same name recognition among the metalverse that their
contemporaries Mastodon, Baroness, or Kylesa have but they sure know
how to kick ass. After the warm-up introduction track 'A Cold
Embrace', the EP starts in earnest with the thrashing 'Enemy of
Reason'. This track has classic Georgia sludge written all over it –
the lurching riffs, the torrent of slimy basslines, the tandem of
raw-throated voices, and the pummeling breakdowns. This is the stuff
that gave sludge/stoner metal its good name in the first place.
Tend No Wounds finds the band
having fun with their core sound and reputation. This can be found in
the fake-out opening to the outstanding 'The Weak and the Wise' where
the violins give way to pure vitriolic hardcore. It can be heard on
the howling guitar chords that herald the arrival of 'Internal /
Eternal' before going locking into a neck-snapping groove. It is in
the Sepultura-esque tribal beat of 'Truth Untold'. The lean track
list and no-frills production values of the EP suit BlackTusk
perfectly even if the whole affair leaves little to the imagination.
They may not be the ones to kick-start the revolution, but they are
as rock solid as they come and know how to play to their strengths.
Rating: B-
Recommended tracks: The Weak and the
Wise, Truth Untold
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