THE BEAST

Motherslug - Blood Moon Blues - Reviewed by thoseonceloyal ! Check it out here at this link: https://thoseonceloyal.wordpress.com/2023/09/21/review-motherslug-blood-moon-blues/

Review by Geary of War

Motherslug have graced the annals of the Killchain before, back in 2017. And while we are late to the party to review this slab of brilliance it is needless to say they have not messed about and have refined their craft once more. Coming to us with ‘Blood Moon Blues’ you would be forgiven for assuming this band hailed from the swamps of NOLA but no!! You would be mistaken, these Australians hail from Melbourne. First things first, I LOVE the album cover, a beautiful big horse going about its day eating grass. If this doesn’t connect the feeling of the harvest moon (another name for the Blood Moon)  and nature then I do not know what to tell you. It is out now through No Slip Records.

Opener ‘Misery’ is simply beautiful which then gives way to the tone henceforth. Fuzz, thick and murky. ‘Hordes’ does zero messing about, heavy and crushing. Early on you get a sense of balance with earthy fuzz and space soaring solos. ‘Breathe’ takes a lighter approach, more ‘Wretch’-era Kyuss. ‘The Ballad of Jock Brown’ is a shift in tone, much more sorrowful, reflective. Old school blues feel before a walloping great surge. And a solo which I believe is giving it all the beans. Best track here? A bold claim I know but you will hear why soon enough. ‘Evil’, well that’s easy, describes its own riff and groove. Granted, there is a nice prog interlude but yes, evil by name.At times I am reminded of Beastwars and their ability to be almost ethereal yet turn to slamming riffs in a heartbeat. Love it. ‘Crank’ instantly oozes cool. No other way to say it. By now a signature gift to groove and riff too, what more do you need or want?

If you call a track ‘Monolith’, it better land big. Thankfully Motherslug did not disappoint. Slowing it down a touch is ‘Forever More’, taking its time to build up the doom is front and centre here. There is a fuzz and battering of drums that Electric Wizard would be proud of, not to mention a few other touches. ‘Push the Venom’ pushes all that brooding to one side and once again brings Kyuss to mind, (it’s hard not to hear some John Garcia in Cameron Crichton’s voice) only this time ‘Green Machine’, a no-messing sprint. ‘Deep in the Hole’ is back to swagger town and sinister groove, hey if it ain’t broke…! The big difference here is the vocal delivery, more like a speech than singing, it adds another element to the proceedings. ‘You (a Love Song)’ is the longest on the album and opens with that gentle tone of the album’s opener. You (pardon the pun) will be shocked to learn big, filthy, possibly-need-a-shower-right-after-this riffs hit. Love is beautiful; it’s mighty, it’s dark and it’s captured well here for love is not simple and nor is this song. ‘Misery (Slight Return)’ is at this stage humorously placed, well to me anyway, after what I took from the last song, a welcome nod to Hendrix (I think) and suitably soulful as a way to end this varied and engaging album.

There is no question in my mind that Motherslug are hidden gems and absolutely add to the doom/stoner scene that exists around the globe. I am sorry I missed this at release date but damn glad have gotten around to it now and so should you. Drag yourself from those electric dunes and find a copy of this record, as soon as. thoseonceloyal

Release Date: April 13, 2023

FFO: Acid King, Sleep, Mean Green

Location: Melbourne, Australia

This album is a rail splitter, it's deep, muddy, swamp-infested, booze and pills riddled Australian blues. As dirty as you could ask for.
~Doomed & Stoned

There’s blues a-plenty and Motherslug brought enough riffs for the whole class, so dig in, everybody.
~The Obelisk

"This band has one of the heaviest guitar sounds in existence"
~ Scars and Guitars

"They take things to a whole other plane with distortion and fuzz dialed to eleven"
~ Desert Psychlist

"Stoner, sludge, and psychedelic coming together to create a crushing, yet also atmospheric listening experience. This is a doozy."
~ Animated Insanity Records

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Follow the band at these links:

www.facebook.com/Motherslugband
https://www.instagram.com/motherslugofficial/
https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Motherslug/3540355969
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Ekg9b5QE5dmpwpJoL2ojl
https://www.youtube.com/user/MotherslugBand