You know the stoner/doom genre is alive and well when you have bands like Corrosion of Conformity, The Mighty Nimbus, High on Fire, Goatsnake, The Hidden Hand, and now Crowbar, all releasing brand new albums of such high quality all within months of each other. Crowbar have been doing this, and doing it well, for over a decade now, so their first release after a long break is a welcome return. Filled with heavy sludge stompers like the slow burn of "Coming Down", the raging Southern doom of "New Dawn", and the psychedelic tinged masterpiece "Fall Back to Zero", Lifesblood for the Downtrodden is a virtual aural feast for those ears that grave grooves that are heavy, slow, and sinful. Guitarist/vocalist Kirk Windstein is in fine form throughout, proving that he learned a few tricks during his time in Down with Phil Anselmo and Pepper Keenan. There's so much melody to go along with the brutal arrangements, which helps the songs become instantly memorable, not just because of their catchy & heavy riffs, but also through the vocals as well. Take the plodding "Dead Sun" for example, with pummeling down-tuned riffs, nicely complemented by Windstein's catchy yet tortured wailings. Even the snails-pace sludge that is "Moon" stays with you long after the song ends, as it is filled with layers of droning guitar glissando and emotional vocals.
Produced by Rex Brown from Pantera/Down (who also contributes some bass) and Warren Riker (Corrosion of Conformity), the sound of this CD is suberb. Windstein has assembled a new line-up for this one, and is now joined by Steve Gibbs on guitars, Pat Bruders on bass, and drummer Tommy Buckley. Black Label Society's Craig Nunenmacher helps out with some drum work as well. To say this is an essential stoner/doom purchase would be an understatement. Highly recommended!
Track Listing
1. New Dawn
2. Slave No More
3. Angels Wings
4. Coming Down
5. Fall Back to Zero
6. Underworld
7. Dead Sun
8. Holding Something
9. Moon
10. The Violent Reaction
11. Lifesblood
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