In 2009, Megaton Leviathan self-released their legendary Megaton Leviathan demo; this release will be re-issued as an EP on Volatile Records in September this year, which should bring a (tortured) smile on the face of any lover of heavy and sludgy music.
Because heavy and sludgy doom-ladden music is what Megaton Leviathan deliver on this album. Whether you want to classify it as doom-ladden sludge metal or sludgy doom metal is up to you, but in any case, the tracks on this release are generally incredibly heavy and slow, some with elements of soundscape experiments in them. Proceeding slowly and relying on repetition, this is music which the listeners can truly lose themselves in and enter a trance-like state, or, depending on one's temper, one's attention might just wander from the music.
The production on the Megaton Leviathan EP is interesting, as it sort of seems to be based on the same sense of aesthetics as a lot of ambient black metal is, although the type of music is completely different. The production is perhaps also less cold on this release than with many ambient black metal acts, but still it does remind me a bit of acts like Kraken Duumvirate and Mortualia in terms of sound and atmosphere. The guitar sound is kind of unpolished without being unpleasantly raw, and the drums have an organic, almost live, sound to them, while the chanting, intentionally droning and monotonous vocals are sort of kept in the background.
Dark and heavy, this release should appeal to those who like sludgy and semi-atmospheric slow and oppressive music with post rock/metal elements. Certainly, the music of this EP lives up to the title of the release and the name of the band.
Track Listing:
1. Water Wealth Hell on Earth
2. Guns and LSD
3. Repeating Patterns of Love
4. Time Fades
5. Turlock
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