Album Review: Hypnochron – Hypnochron (Self Released)

Chicago based, instrumental sludge/doom trio Hypnochron have been doing the rounds since 2012 opening for bands such as Karma to Burn, Year of the Cobra, and local stalwarts such as Snow Burial, Faces of the Bog, and Pale Horseman. On March 20th 2020 they released their self-titled album.

The album begins with Sigma Draconis, a start where the floodgates are opened and they unleash a torrent of sludgy doom noise. It’s the equivalent of trying to move through molasses while carrying a granite block. So heavy, so sticky and so exhausting. As all great sludge should be.

The thought that it might get too much though is dismissed with Eradication of Light thanks to a brief but welcome melodic drop. A track that evolves the sludgy doom sound of Hypnochron and shows some really developed edges to their instrumental heaviness. It’s spectacular sludge, one where sinking into the mire of Pachydermis and Gargle is so damn welcome. The psychedelic echo of the guitars in the latter is monumental stuff.

Over far too quickly but so very satisfyingly, (Last One) is a final wild ride of thick and greasy riffs, bass lines that are akin to having a chain wrapped around the ankle as you struggle to stay afloat and drums that send splashes of choking grim into the mouth.

Hypnochron – Hypnochron Full Track Listing:

1. Sigma Draconis
2. Eradication of Light
3. Pachydermis
4. Gargle
5. (Last One)

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