Album Review: Butcher in the Fog – Exonerate Me, Baby (Sleight of Hand Records)

Established in 2011, Butcher in the Fog are a London based band playing raw, fast, heavy music. Inspired by bands like Motorhead and High on Fire, they take elements from metal, noise, punk and rock, stick it together and get on with it. After two strong releases, the group are back with their third album, Exonerate Me, Baby. Out on the July 2nd, 2021 via Sleight of Hand Records.

It seems like you’re always guaranteed a good time when it comes to Butcher in the Fog. Even if this is your latest go-round with the unit or it is your first time, good times will be had. Exonerate Me, Baby might very well be the band’s best album to date.

A thought that comes into the mind upon hearing the electric punk-energy of opener, 3rd Strike (Fool’s Errand). Here, the dirty riffing blends brilliantly with powerful, distorted vocals, the bass is choppy and thick, and the drums keep the rhythm on point. Not the easiest task as it gets bloody weirdly psychedelic at a certain point.

Get used to that as it’s a major factor in what makes this album such an addictive listen. The different directions that these tracks go off in always seem to work. We then get another couple of high points; Russian Brides frantic nature takes a wild diversion into wilder but thrilling proggy sounds and Swamp of Delusion has a deeper and muddier chug that had me thinking of Motorhead.

How do you surpass that? By not even attempting too. Instead, going for something a bit different with Man Adrift. Where doomy sounding guitars and clean and ethereal vocals keeps things sounding varied. At over 7 minutes long, it does seem like it might get a bit cloying but Butcher in the Fog really keep it together. One of their most captivating tracks and perfected with the enormous sounding instrumental outro.

Back to a fierier tempo with the title track and mentally challenging Plastic Tag before the Motorhead reference comes back with the thrash/punk beast that is Auditory Hallucinations / Quicksand. Another set of excellent tracks, the latter is going to slay live.

This is such a great album that it is with so much disappointment that it has to end… but what an ending it is. Portrait of A Nightmare is thrashy gold (those riffs) but then, out of the blue, comes an exceptional melodic segment. Before the track ends as it begun. Fantastic stuff.

Bravo Butcher in the Fog. You really are a special band and deserve way more attention. Hopefully this album will bring it as it’s such an accomplished release.

Butcher in the Fog – Exonerate Me, Baby Full Track Listing:

1. 3rd Strike (Fool’s Errand)
2. Russian Bride
3. Swamp of Delusion
4. Man Adrift
5. Exonerate Me, Baby
6. Plastic Tag
7. Auditory Hallucinations / Quicksand
8. Portrait of a Nightmare

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook