On this comp you get the good, the bad, and the ugly all together. Some of it is top shelf, some of it is lousy, and some of it is in-between. It's a worthwhile buy if you need a sludge fix but some moments are just agonizing. I supposed if I was a diehard sludge fan I would be able to tolerate it all but there's some moments on here where I just don't see why some of the bands bothered. I guess I should break it down band by band and let you make up your mind about it. Most of these bands remind me of the last time I had your wives and girlfriends...very slow, deep, and pounding. Just ask 'em. The only real difference is that Barry White ain't playin' in the background and the only thing getting laid down is some heavy sludge.

HEADACHE turns in 3 songs and starts with an overlong sample that irritated me right from the start. Repetitive samples are just boring and show that you spent way too much time on something that would have been cool if it was about ten seconds, but we're at the 2:30 mark and the sample is still going. It's almost 3 minutes before the first song starts. What we have is some fairly generic sludge on the first track with really annoying vocals. It gets no better on track two "Thrush", where the vocals sound like he just hit puberty. Just cracks everywhere. Occasionally he sounds okay, but it is just disorganized slop. By "Knocksville" you realize that this has got to be a joke band. If not I am worried about the state of sludgecore

WEEDEATER turn in 2 tunes. Finally we get real! Deep, swampy waves drag you under and the thickness of it chokes you out. Every riff hits you, clogging your senses and your ability to do anything other than nod in a stupor as the gas-swallowing vocals slash through the fog. Deep, painful grooves are laid down and there's not a clear eye in sight. Perhaps they really are eating weed. That shit will fuck you up bad. I recall DJing at a local bar one night when one of the bartenders put out some special brownies her mom made. I ate a few small squares, as did the entire staff pretty much. We were soon elevated into other dimensions and unable to do much. If I recall it correctly, I could barely function and I think I played the same song 4 times in the same night. For a reference point here I suggest stuff like NOOTHGRUSH and some of the more mid-tempo (for them) EYEHATEGOD tunes. Or even a more guitar-friendly MAN IS THE BASTARD in their slow-mo moments.

FISTULA turns in one tune called "Tough Guy" that starts almost like an ACID KING song, but comes on more like a rhino on PCP. Some lyrics about getting sucker punched, which is cheesy in my eyes. A suckerpunch ain't shit to write about. Catching a beatdown ain't even worth writing about. Besides "Suckerpunch" by RANCID VAT is way cooler. This sounds a lot like "Nothing Left Inside" by BLACK FLAG. It ain't bad but it's somewhat disposable. I'm just not into whiny songs. I'm not into thug shit either, though.

KING TRAVOLTA turn in 5, count 'em, 5 tunes. The first one is a stab at QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE. "You think your band is really cool but you're just really gay" is not really that funny. What's really funny is that they say "you're queerer than a three dollar bill so bend over and get your fill"! Why do people who make gay jokes always have to sound gay? It's always "suck my dick you faggot!" Like I thought you weren't into the gay thing? Hahahaha. I'm way more into the hot chick on "Dog Eat Dog" right now. Looks like it’s a hot Goth chick and some creepy looking Goth guys who don't know looking like you're in NIN is a lame magnet. Anyways, the second tune ain't bad and it gets really good as it goes along. If they would have left the first tune off, I would be more impressed. If you're going to make jokes make sure they're funny. It helps. "Leprosy" actually grinds and sounds good. Not a bad use of blast beats. "Pigs" comes off pretty heavy in a weirdo downtuned Painesville hardcore sort of way. Although tunes about cops are stale. I still wouldn't mind hearing what else these guys have to offer.

CRUEVO turn in one tune that has a solid beat and rockin' riffs. The style here is more slow-paced metal than sludge. It kind of reminds me of BUZZOV*EN but a touch slower than I recall them sounding. Solid and kinda chugging at some points, then picking up steam in other spots. Very solid. I'm almost tempted to listen all the way thru again but I've heard this disc a few times already and I need to get some sleep but damn it's good!

TUSKS OF BLOOD turn in two tunes that are waaaaaaay downtuned. The vocals remind me of the vocalist from ROT (Brazil) when he did his high-ends in a weird way and maybe a touch of the vocals on some of the DISRUPT records. But make no mistake -- this ain't no grind. Its slow motion pounding that moves along...but like most comps where a lot of the tunes are similar I'm running out of adjectives to use and bands to compare them to. Finally some double bass! Serious! Just listen to "Theories" and see for yourself.

MOHO turn in three tunes and start off with a kickass almost SABBATH semi high energy intro to "Duelo". It’s like an outtake from something from "Sabotage" at a slightly more downtuned level. More glass shard chomping vocals and the most high energy tune on the disc. This is pretty goddamn impressive. It manages to retain all of its sludge while still kicking up the speed. Lots of cool Iommi riffing….then the eventual slow drop into the abyss. But because they were so effective with the speed, when it shifts gears it has that same painful feel that CROSSED OUT used to get when they shifted from breakneck INFEST speeds to heavy breakdowns that nodded to SABBATH. And if you don't listen to CROSSED OUT you're a fucking loser by the way. The only real difference is that they could do that shit in a minute or less, putting even the Domino's guy and premature ejaculators to shame. Keeping up the raw energy, MOHO sound like the equivalent of ripping out your teeth as a kid. A hit of adrenaline before the act as you prepare for the pain. Then the pain hits and all your preparation is laid to waste as your head fogs out from it for a while and you can't move from the delirium of what you've done. Later when you realize what you did the remorse sets in. Was it really necessary? Probably not but gimme another jolt motherfucker! People ride roller coasters for this feeling. I have this band now. And roller coasters are for whitetrash broads and prep chicks to flash tits on and that's about it.

SLOTH turns in one tune and in usual SLOTH fashion bewilder. Anyone who has ever listened to them knows how funny and powerful they are. This tune is no exception. "This song is dedicated to FLOOR. I don't need to wait till they die to appreciate them" FUCK YEA! Except I don't really like FLOOR. SLOTH on the other hand is the sludge version of SOCKEYE. A bunch of idiot savants making music that is just amazing, grating, and embarrassing to like all at once. I played SOCKEYE for our new drummer on the way back from Cleveland this past weekend and I got an awfully weird look when "Tittyfuck a Coal Miner" came on. This will no doubt get the same weird look when I go on about how good it is and then play it. A fitting end to a good comp. I had my beefs, but all in all it's worthwhile... I recommend it to people that like to hear this sort of thing and people like me who like bands like SLOTH.

- Two Tub Tony

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