Professor Oates, It’s about time I got down to evaluating one of my...

It’s about time I got down to evaluating one of my favorite albums of 2011. Miami’s menacers Shroud Eater are no strangers to most of the people that read this blog. While I am using one of my few allotted late passes to give my official take that shouldn’t deter you, the reader, in the slightest from getting your hands on this pinnacle sludge, and sparingly psychedelic, metal record. There will, of course, be a link below to help you with that. I do appreciate the black and white mirror of the gaping chakra specter. Is that the omniscient Illuminati I see in the middle surveying the chaos?

Guitar tones should always portray the grit soaked realities of the ax wielder. Case and point with “the shrouds” string section: a volcanic combination of guitarist/vocalist Jean Saiz and bassist Jan Valentine. Make sure to heat up a bath before giving Thundernoise an in depth listen. You’re going to need it to help wash off the leagues of radioactive sludge cemented into your ears, eyes and everywhere else on your flesh. Nothing gets my heart pumping faster than a detonation of fervent filthy guitars led by caustically primal, and possibly Laveyan, lyricism. There’s really an unmistakable and unifying savagery about the SE presentation. Positively paramount. Stunting slow downs are among the crafty devices within the Shroud Eater musical tool box. There were times where the gradual degradation occurring in unison, portrayed most noticeably in “Baying of the Jackals”, left just a strong of an impression as the scalding refrains that came before their descent.

Comparisons I’ve read include Black Tusk more frequently than most, and I will agree. However, I feel Shroud Eater carries a significantly satisfying malevolence that Black Tusk fills up with barbeque soaked ravagery. Some of these riffs and segues stimulate a familiar feeling that I get when I smash my face through construction materials in response to the shattering might of Noothgrush or unyielding grooves of Bison B.C. . Rhythmically, spear headed by drummer Felipe Torres, Shroud Eater sets themselves apart with the unorthodox fill repetitions and gnarly cymbal accentuation. Any fan of High on Fire will feel right at home between the stringently executed drum head abuse.

Summative Sentence: Eleven stoned sinister anthems sure to satiate your daily head banging quota.

Favorite Track: Vesuvius