INTO THE NETHER REGIONS
A couple of things might come to mind upon hearing a name like Nether Regions: a hot, hellish abyss, or, maybe, an area you’d be well advised not to scratch in public. Life is full of tough decisions, but fortunately, with the debut album by the Portland, Oregon foursome, you don’t have to choose — you get an even helping of both. These Northwestern shamans of sludge play a hot, sweaty, and very hairy style of stoner metal that rocks just as hard as it itches.
“Into the Breach/Spanish Werewolves” kicks off the fiesta in ear-smothering form. What’s the difference between Spanish werewolves and regular-old, every day ones? Well — they obviously kick more ass. Bursting out of the gate, descending riffs, relentless tom drum racket, and screeching lead work gnaw at the ears. The molten sound will feel right at home for fans of Kylesa and High on Fire, especially as bassist Joe Wickstrom’s Tom Wait’s singin’ metal moan comes grumbling in. Across its duration, this beast gives even nods to the apocalyptic open-chord swells of Given to the Rising-era Neurosis and the thrashier shred breaks in Mastodon’s repertoire. How’s that for name-dropping?
If your band is going to break into an established scene, you best know the masters. Based on their opening track alone, Nether Regions pass this test with flying red, orange, and black colors, but doomy stoner metal is hardly a groundbreaking niche these days; is there anything here that distinguishes these rockers from their many bearded peers?
Into the Breach may not send your current conception of metal toppling down, but it does showcase a band with a clear vision for their sound and one that is just a little different from the rest. Utilizing instrumental performances that are not so much tight as they are fitting and a tobacco-blackened voice that is equally unrefined, the group creates churning and soothing compositions that side-step one of the genre’s greatest downfalls: listener narcolepsy.
The difference is listenability — Nether Regions has it. This becomes especially clear with the second track, “Do You Live?”, a standout tune commanding a rising succession of riffs and simple lead parts that vary only slightly from each other, but escalate in intensity with each appearance. By the time the song reaches its stride, spiny fifth guitar harmonies and a monumental Beard of Zeus solo drop down from the stormy sky raining all kinds of awesome.
Nether Regions’ writing has its own intricacies, but what makes it work isn’t technicality by the bucket or an endless wealth indulgence, it’s the right parts. Sludge metal songs sink or swim based on that “just right riff” or lead that you could listen to all day. From the chilling lead motif of “Blood Ritual” to the slaying goody-bag of riffs that dominate “Alpha/Omega,” it’s apparent that little is accidental in the group’s writing. Those special parts are honed and developed cleverly into sprawling pieces that are explored to the fullest extent.
Into the Breach was recorded by Mike Lastra, known for his work with another Pacific Northerwestern metal band you may have heard of (name rhymes with Shmagalloch…). He does the work justice giving the album that sandpapery, unrefined din necessary for the style of music. If anything isn’t quite given its due in the mix, though, it’s Ryan Moore’s drumming. Sludge metal thrives on thick earth-shaking percussion. The kick and tom tones rarely distinguish on this record. The result during some of the busier sections sounds something akin to a tap dancer giving your DW kit a bruising. We aren’t talking St. Anger drum fouls here, but the tone is a little irksome.
Into the Breach is an impressive offering to the sludge/doom/stoner aisle. If you consider yourself a fan of any of the groups referenced above, then Nether Regions’ debut should be right at the top of your wish list. Throw on your wife beater, spill something sticky on it, and enjoy.
(3 1/2 out of 5 horns)
-BS
