REVIEW: Bongcauldron - Self-titled EP (2014)
There was a bunch of reviews I wrote for the third issue of the physical zine that was never actually released, and of all the EPs I reviewed, this one stuck with me the most as being the most exciting and memorable, so I thought I would share it with you regardless.
I know this came out a while ago (although still 2014 so not decades ago), but when I come across an EP from a band with such a great name, and then see that the track listing includes Tree Wizard and Pissed Up, how am I supposed to not review that shit. The self-titled EP starts as it means to go on, a downpour of feedback into the heaviest sludge riff I have heard in a very long time. Complete with hoarse vocals and truly incredible drumming, not to mention the blatant lyrical genius, Tree Wizard is a raw, upbeat sludge nightmare come true. Pissed Up keeps the punches rolling with a slower tank of a track that showcases the bass capabilities to their full; a doom-laden, Sabbath-esque track and a real head banger.
The third track, Vehemence, racks the speed back up to the point where the slow rhythmic doom drum beat becomes thunderous blastbeats… The only thing that could possibly follow this? A twelve minute roaring epic called Gimp Jig, that’s what! Remaining an instrumental until the 6 minute mark where the vocalist decides to erupt a titanic of a death cry into the microphone. Dropping in and out of some of the sludgiest riffs I have ever heard, this track has been keeping my neighbours awake for days on repeat.
Gauze Rite closes the EP with some more brilliantly written fuzzed out sludge riffs, complete with the necessary, ripping solo. Well produced, particularly for a small sludge band from Leeds with a name like BongCauldron, and possibly one of my favourite current Eps. This is worth checking out for anybody even slightly into their stoner metal.
