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Since returning from an extended hiatus, Pennsylvania sludge metal unit NEGATIVE 13 have more than made up for lost time. The band’s latest album Recover What You Can sees them combine the sludge that they are known for with a groovier doom sound and even some crucial post-punk elements to maximum effect. From the opening notes of the immediate and catchy The Desolate, it is immediately evident that NEGATIVE 13 are on a roll with their material and from then on in, it is a dizzying ride full of riffs, grooves and attitude to the fullest. NEGATIVE 13 start as they mean to go on with this opening salvo and it just gets better and better from there on in.
The pounding Casket Trail follows and sees Negative 13 adding an even filthier groove to proceedings. It’s just as catchy as its predecessor and the track brings to mind EYEHATEGOD and the much missed BUZZ-OVEN due to both the formidable vocals of Scott Fisher and the sludge laden nastiness. A remarkable bassline courtesy of Mary Bielich kicks off the next track, The Vulture Trail and the song simply explodes with energy which doesn’t let up for one second and the result is a hurricane of a track.
Whilst these first three tracks fly by in a relatively brief fashion, the remaining three songs on Recover What You Can add more weight and depth to the album, with their more epic running times summoning a horde of different vibes. Horizon Divides adds a more mournful dimension to proceedings as things slow right down, the vocals taking on a macabre tone over some harrowing doom.
Recover What You Can by Negative 13
The epic Devil In Your Head amplifies a discordant post-punk vibe throughout (particularly in the guitar work of Edward Banchs) and this complements the sludge perfectly. The results are as heavy as they are affecting, adding yet another dimension to Recover What You Can. The pounding, mesmerising drums of Chip Reynolds are also a focal point of the power of this song, with a rhythmic vibe powering the song throughout.
The album concludes with the title track, ending on a particularly memorable note, complete with an example of the power of NEGATIVE 13, especially in its controlling, nasty groove that pulls you in without warning and a middle section that sounds powerfully heartbreaking, adding more cadence to the eclectic nature of the album. Recover What You Can is another key piece in the return of NEGATIVE 13 and is an essential listen for any sludge metal fans, especially ones who love their grooves and riffs as filthy as it comes, as they will certainly find their fix for that on this record.
Rating: 7/10
Recover What You Can is out now via self-release.
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The post ALBUM REVIEW: Recover What You Can – Negative 13 appeared first on Distorted Sound Magazine.
