Legend of the Swamp Goat

What we have here is a short but sweet side release by sludge-lite/post-hardcore/whatever silly term metalloids are using for this type of stuff now band Hull. Although their influences runs the gamut on the more accessible side of the doom pantheon, the track itself is pretty straightforward. Despite generally being skeptical of this sort of poppy not-quite-sludge stuff that has been garnering the attention of PBR swillers for a while now, the way this track wins me over is by being so damn catchy that it's hard not to like it. It's heavy enough, has gruff enough vocals and enough breathing room to not become nauseatingly poppy like Torche can become at times.

Hull put two main vocal styles on display. One is a clean sustained psuedo-croon that puts forth their more pop-oriented sensibilities. The other is a gruff bark that falls somewhere between greasy 300 pound biker dude who hasn't shaved in over a year and 300 pound neckbeard decked out in plaid and donning ludicrously oversized glasses. And you know what? It works well enough for what they're going for. Instrumentally, they draw from a lot - trad doom, bouncy stoner fare, desert rock and the cleaner side of sludge. It has a nice swampy tinge. It has a sweet bluesy solo that shows some strong Southern sensibilities The drumming is nicely done, occasionally showing off vague hardcore leanings.

Although I'm definitely not sold on this sludge-lite stuff hipsters seem to flock to, this is pretty cool for what it is. The swampy vibe is definitely a big plus, and as musicians they definitely have some chops. This is lighter stuff, sure, but it still feels like metal unlike Torche and their ilk. In the end, this tune isn't quite amazing although it's hard to find to find anything worth complaining about. The thin layer of motorcycle sleaze they drizzle over their sound surely helps their cause. It's a good compromise what often gets deemed "hipster sludge" and brawnier leanings.

Originally written for The Metal Observer.