Everything about Sludge Metal totally explained
Sludge metal is a form of
heavy metal music that's generally regarded as a fusion of the
doom metal and
hardcore punk genres, often displaying
southern rock influence. Sludge metal is typically aggressive and abrasive; most often featuring shouted vocals, heavily distorted instruments and sharply contrasting
tempos. It originated in the
American state of
Louisiana during the late 1980s.
Characteristics
Sludge metal generally combines the slow
tempos, heavy rhythms and dark, pessimistic atmosphere of doom metal with the aggressive style, shouted vocals and fast tempos of hardcore punk. The string instruments (electric guitar and bass guitar) are heavily
distorted and often use a large amount of
audio feedback to produce an abrasive, sludgy sound. Guitar solos are often absent. Drumming is more often in the form of
d-beat and
double bass drumming. However the beats may be slowed considerably, with the tempo usually falling somewhere between 50 and 80
beats per minute (bpm). Vocals are usually shouted or screamed, and lyrics are generally
blue-collar in nature; reflecting on society, generally in a depressive, cynical or downtrodden manner.
Many sludge metal bands from the
Southern United States incorporate
southern rock influences and imagery, although it should be noted that not all sludge metal bands share this style. Due to the similarities with
stoner metal, there's often a crossover between the two genres, but sludge metal generally avoids stoner metal's positive atmosphere and its usage of
psychedelia. Sludge metal also bears some musical and lyrical resemblance to
crust punk (for example
Dystopia).
Stylistic divisions
Sludge metal has several loosely defined subgenres. Traditional sludge metal is the "purest" form of the genre, typified by bands such as
Crowbar, which come from
New Orleans' metal scene. Southern Sludgecore is typified by strong
blues and
southern rock influences, extreme levels of distortion, extremely slow tempos, and generally hateful and controversial lyrics concerning
misogyny or drug addiction.
Eyehategod is generally regarded as the founder of this genre. Aside from Louisiana, the biggest sludge metal scene is in North Carolina. North Carolina bands usually have a stronger punk influence, which includes bands such as
Corrosion of Conformity,
Antiseen,
Weedeater and
Buzzov*en. It is important to note that not all sludge metal is slow. The term Sludge/Doom is usually applied to sludge metal bands that emphasize slow-tempos.
Atmospheric sludge metal aims to produce an ambient atmosphere with reduced aggression, more philosophical lyrics and an
experimental style.
Neurosis,
Isis and
Cult of Luna are considered the forerunners and the most important bands in this subgenre. Atmospheric sludge bands draws influences from bands such as
Earth, Neurosis and
Godflesh instead of the earliest sludge metal bands.
Mogwai in particular are a strong influence, especially on Isis, Cult of Luna,
Pelican and
Callisto. Mogwai's influence is particularly demonstrated by the use of single-note delayed guitar riffs which are achieved using a
delay pedal. In an interview, Pelican mentioned that the heaviness of their music is no longer their main priority. Their sound is now being referred to as
post-metal or "postcore" by many fans.
Sludge metal is often fused with other genres, such as stoner metal (
Electric Wizard),
black metal (
Unearthly Trance),
death metal (
Soilent Green), or
industrial music (
Fudge Tunnel).
History
Sludge metal is generally regarded to have been invented by the
Melvins, a band from the state of
Washington. Their earliest releases,
Six Songs (1986) and
Gluey Porch Treatments (1987) were a major influence on both sludge metal and the Washington
grunge scene. Some also cite the band
Flipper and the second side of
Black Flag's album
My War (1984) as influential.
During the late 1980s, a number of bands from
New Orleans,
Louisiana took these influences and developed the style that would be known as sludge metal.
This music scene was popularly referred to as "NOLA". From there, the style spread to many other areas throughout the Southern United States.
During the early 2000s many sludge bands began to incorporate
post-rock elements into their music. This new sound was greatly inspired by the experimental style of
Neurosis, and is performed by prominent bands such as
Isis,
Cult of Luna and
Pelican.
Sludge metal bands by style
Traditional/Southern sludge metal
These bands are the pioneers of the genre or are strongly influenced by those bands. Many are from the Southern United States.
Stoner sludge metal
These bands mix typical
stoner metal traits with typical sludge metal traits, and may be considered a part of both genres.
Bongzilla
Boris
Down
Kylesa
The Sword
Torche
Weedeater
Atmospheric sludge metal
Many of these bands are also considered to be a part of the closely-related post-metal genre.
Callisto (True Nature Unfolds and Noir)
Cult of Luna
Giant Squid
Intronaut
Isis
Minsk
Mouth of the Architect
Neurosis
The Ocean
Pelican (earlier)
Rosetta
Other sludge metal styles
3D House of Beef (characteristically slower sludge metal and doom metal)
Baroness (sludge metal, progressive metal and alternative metal)
Boris (sludge metal, drone doom, stoner metal, psychedelic rock and noise rock)
Corrupted (sludge metal, funeral doom, drone doom and ambient)
Fudge Tunnel (sludge metal and alternative metal)
Gojira (sludge metal, death metal, groove metal, thrash metal and progressive metal)
Halo (sludge metal and industrial music)
Kingdom of Sorrow (sludge metal and metalcore)
Lair of the Minotaur (sludge metal and thrash metal)
Mastodon (sludge metal and progressive metal)
Moss (sludge metal and doom metal)
Pantera (sludge metal and groove metal)
Soilent Green (sludge metal and deathgrind)Further Information
Get more info on 'Sludge Metal'.
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