If you’re feeling particularly bunged up right now and don’t fancy guzzling prune juice to resolve it, ‘Industrial Nightmare’ may well be the solution to your problems. This four track EP from Birmingham-based trio Voidlurker is doom of the most bowel-shaking variety. The grooves are slow, it’s monstrously heavy and the bass has been down-tuned so far that the strings are hanging slack. Play it through headphones and your entire body vibrates, so if you ate a ten-ounce ribeye steak four days ago and still haven’t seen it emerge, this’ll be just the thing.
Their West Midlands origins are appropriate as these guys are very much in love with Black Sabbath. They’re heavier than the Godfathers of course, but these methodical, mid-paced songs owe a massive debt to Tony Iommi et al. It’s dark and oppressive and conjures visions of emaciated factory workers, shuffling in lines beneath the whips of overseers while smokestacks belch filth into the dystopian sky. It also feels like it’s turned up out of nowhere and makes the case for these lads being the best-kept-secret of the UK’s doom circle.
The title track and ‘Jeffrey Doomer’ for instance are going to be manna from heaven for anyone who likes to wade through riffage that’s thick as treacle. These songs are long and punishing, but despite the extended run-times still hold your attention. They’re bleak, but you can’t turn away and it’s easy to find yourself enveloped in the threatening atmosphere.
Closing track ‘Bitchcraft And Misery’ though is probably their strongest cut. It’s reminiscent of rocket engines burning fuel so fast, up into the night sky they blast and packs a surprisingly hooky chorus. You wouldn’t put it on at a barbecue, but it’s the closest the EP gets to having a good time and makes for a surprisingly frenetic climax.
And even though this is just an EP, it runs for a decent length of time and you certainly get your money’s worth. Voidlurker aren’t reinventing doom but they have made an incredibly slow and engrossing first impression. Expect to see them at Roadburn in the future but use the bathroom before they go on. There’ll be queues after.
- ‘Industrial Nightmare’ is out now. You can get your copy HERE.
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