Album Review: Opium Lord – Vore (Sludgelord Records)

Opium Lord started life in 2014 and quickly released their first EP on Thirty Days of Night Records, following that they released their first album ‘Eye of Earth’ on Candlelight Records in 2017 followed by a split 7 inch with Rhode Island’s Churchburn gaining plaudits all over.

Since their formation they have toured and played the UK, Europe and North America playing with bands such as Yob, Primitive Man, Weedeater, Swans, Black Cobra, Unearthly Trance, Will Haven, Conan, Oathbreaker and more.

Now, on the 11th October 2019, they will release their new album ‘Vore’ via Sludgelord Records.

Moving from a bumpy ride with Candlelight Records to link up with Sludgelord Records, the band said:

It’s been a frustrating few years waiting around and having to chase all of the time, almost to the point of breaking up, until we made the decision just to sack off the farce and move on, we were chuffed that we get the opportunity of working with Sludgelord Records, we recognise there is something special happening here, Aaron is working really hard and it’s something we want to be apart of.

The new album titled Vore, also features Mike Scheidt of Oregon band Yob who came across Opium Lord while on tour and expressed a will to work with the band and guest stars on the track Columbia.

There’s pain behind Opium Lord’s new album. It drips from the riffs, echoes from the percussion and spreads like an infection from the vocals. The feedback-laden and dourness of the opening track, WWCD shows all of this in just a matter of minutes.

The sludgy doom is well and truly in effect though with the following Lead Magnet. Deep and booming, the raw sound of band looking to put their stamp on a burdening scene. Heavy as hell, the effectiveness of the riffs can’t be overstated.

As good as that was, it’s Centurion that will really blow minds. The tempo just that little higher, the rhythm just that little darker, the vocals just that little bit harsher on the ears…it all combines for a wild and inventive listen. As it nears its conclusion, it slows down to a crawl but never loses its intensity.

Topping that is an impossible task as Suture and Sherwood is Connector prove. Although they are both great songs too, the former upsets the guts with deep rumbling guitars and the latter leaves the brain in an achy state from the the sheer power of the riffs.

It’s up to Mike Schedit and his guest appearance on Columbia to topple Centurion and bloody hell does it come close. A colossal effort; the fuzz, the molasses tempo, the unbridled threat that comes from the vocals, the flashes of booming intensity…it’s an unblemished effort that will make the ears bleed.

With one final effort in Gift, a track that doesn’t change the winning formula but has some interesting post-like rhythm in there, Opium Lord end an album that is very special.

Opium Lord – Vore Full Track Listing:

1. WWCD
2. Lead Magnet
3. Centurion
4. Suture
5. Sherwood Is Connector
6. Columbia (Featuring Mike Scheidt)
7. Gift

Links

Bandcamp | Facebook | Sludgelord Records