Whether you are still employed, laid off or furloughed, it might have felt like a trudge to get to Wednesday. Hell, it has been a trudge getting through this year, with no hope of any of this pandemic slowing down. And at this rate, what’s another crack over the head?
If nothing else, 2020 has been a hotbed of crushing releases. And Unruly is here to continue that streak with their self-titled debut. Hailing out of Te Whanganui a Tara, New Zealand, Unruly is a culmination of members from prominent projects like Meth Drinker, Influence, Bonecruncher, Drug Problem and more. The band is actually named after a British family that was deported from New Zealand for beach littering, theft and damaging an apartment. You can read about that here. That said, it should come as no surprise that Unruly’s debut is an ugly, heavy, fuzzy slice of sludge.
A quote from the band on what to expect:
“For freaks into Upsidedown Cross, Eyehategod, Iron Monkey, Noothgrush, Sleep, Witch, Burning Witch, Grief, Gacy, Morricone, marijuana, alcohol, horror, science fiction, space, fire, leprosy, house plants, animal welfare, TVX, Meth Drinker, dahtm, L7, hard-ons, Amebix, Hawkwind, Flipper and other heavy degeneracy.
The album is an amalgamation of songs based on unruly things seen, felt, heard and imagined.
The band is three people coping through aural distraction and musical obsession; mocking the human stain, ‘…terribly sorry to keep you awake’”
Slow and thick as tar, Unruly’s aim is to drown the listener in filth. “Floorboards” comes on like a damn bulldozer and keeps that sludgy slow pace throughout. It’s like Eyehategod covering Come To Grief while still channeling the ugliness of Meth Drinker or Fistula. The second track “Bleach Jesus” follows much as the first. And the third track “Absence” plays a little more with groove but keeps the mood swinging like a wrecking ball.
Other tracks like “Unruly Family” are incredibly catchy. Or the final track “Blood of Satan” with its synths and slow lead-in. Both impress themselves onto the listener's ears like jackhammers. Ultimately, it is all a heavy, slow trip. Those that have been needing some sludge pouring through their speakers need not look any further. Unruly is here to wreck everything.
Preorder here
Unruly Bandcamp
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