PHANTOM GLUE (s/t) LP/CD
PHANTOM GLUE's debut full length offers a mighty slab of unrelenting, heavy, riff-driven sludge that has been fortified by addition of a quantity hardcore punk mixed with a strong dose 1970's heavy rock. They took the über-heaviness of the Melvins, injected it with 50cc of methamphetamine, and welded the illustriousness of Black Sabbath to it. The monstrous guitar tone of Matt Oates and Mike Gowell is as big and massive as a wrecking ball and it serves the same purpose, namely crushing everything in its path. There is nothing subtle in each of the included seven tracks. The brutal vocal style would match the best to any hardcore band, whereas the drums lurch and the guitars hold deep ass power chords for more than a few seconds at a time, definitely threatening to blow your speakers.
PHANTOM GLUE are pretty good at shaping their own abrasive heavy sound and especially the inclusion of 1970's heavy rock elements ensures that most of the tunes will stay in my ear for a longer period. One of my favorite songs is 'Scabman' that once again reveals the band's love for early Black Sabbath. If you are more interested in acts like High On Fire or the pummeling low end of Big Business then I suggest you to listen to 'Gog and Magog', 'Pilgrim' or 'Ross The Boss'. As indicated before, PHANTOM GLUE are difficult to categorize. And the psychotic eruptions make it no easier to put them into any pigeonhole. Therefore, this is no innovative but a very varied album. It has been recorded at Kurt Ballou's Godcity studios who manages to capture a dynamic and unpolished, brute sound. To sum it up: this is a promising debut and the next strong release from Teenage Disco Bloodbath Records in 2010.
(KK)