Album Review: Barbarian Hermit – Mean Sugar (APF Records)

The 2nd of August 2024 will see the return of Barbarian Hermit, Manchester’s leading purveyors of groove laden, stoner/doom metal. Released on APF Records, ‘Mean Sugar’ may just be the heaviest ever tribute to Northern life.

It’s been an interesting few years for Barbarian Hermit, having made one hell of a splash with their 2018 debut album, ‘Solitude And Savagery’, playing countless tours and appearing at many festivals, getting through the pandemic period, and reuniting with original vocalist Simon Scarlett who helped craft the band’s debut ‘One’ EP, originally released in 2016 (and reissued on APF Records in 2021).

Written over a 3-year period, it’s no surprise that ‘Mean Sugar’ is the sound of a band dealing with feelings of anger and frustration, but it’s also the sound of a band revitalised. When it all seemed to get too much, Barbarian Hermit wrote loud music, and the result of that can now be experienced to the fullest with this new album.

An album that showcases a band pouring every inch of themselves into it, bringing forth thick doomy groove and stoner intensity in an infectious way. It’s both the Barbarian Hermit of old and the Barbarian Hermit of now. Looking forward, while also reminding listeners just why they are considered such a powerhouse of metal.

Something they announce with aplomb on the opening riff-demon that is the title track. Utilising a leisurely tempo to deliver gargantuan instrumental heaviness and gruff vocals. It’s a punishing start but sets up the right frame of mind for what follows. Which just so happens to be even more thick body-shaking and head-banging groove with Battle of Kompromat. This one chugs along with a meanness, until around the halfway point where the vibe shifts to something more laidback, evident by the vocal changeup. No complaints though, as it sounds great, and when the heaviness comes back, it slays.

Early on, it’s abundantly clear that this album is all about killer tracks with absolutely no filler. To the point where even a short, ambient, and trippy piece like Out Come the Boasts has massive impact. Especially as it flows nicely into the chunky and chuggy lovable nastiness of Who Put 50p in You? The uptick in energy right at the end is wild and so much fun. A likely long-term favourite of the listener base going forward.

Although that could also apply to the insanely catchy Stitched Up. Which is not always something you expect to hear from Barbarian Hermit, but there you go, they’ve nailed it here.

The latter half of the album continues to delight too as a track like Deadbolt keeps things so very inventively heavy and groovy. Kick Up the Dust, which has unexpectedly haunting atmosphere and melody at the start, signalling Barbarian Hermit’s most challenging track so far. Challenging because it is certainly more progressive, more experimental, and the most uniquely structured track of all.

If you thought that was the apex of the album though, you’re sorely mistaken as along comes the penultimate track, Stranger Than Fiction and the finale of Heal the Tyrant to put the emphatic stamp of brilliance on this record. Both tracks showcase the best of a modern Barbarian Hermit and prove that any attempt to count this band out is utterly futile. They’ve had some banger releases previously, but Mean Sugar is on another level completely.

Barbarian Hermit – Mean Sugar Track Listing:

1. Mean Sugar
2. Battle Of Kompromat
3. Out Come the Boasts
4. Who Put 50p In You?
5. Stitched Up
6. Deadbolt
7. Kick Up the Dust
8. Stranger Than Fiction
9. Heal The Tyrant

Links

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