This fourth disc by JUMBO'S KILLCRANE is quite an improvement over their previous record "Carnaval De Carne"; a record many people complained was too short (6 songs, 23 minutes). The very aptly titled "The Slow Decay" has that same amount of songs (1 intro + 5 tracks actually) and clocks in at 40 minutes.

JUMBO'S KILLCRANE is a band from Lawrence, Kansas who debuted in 1999 with an album called "Scratch", on which they still played a kind of proto-grunge/noise-rock. Since then, their sound has evolved into a darker doom/sludgecore kind of thing that they themselves describe as ‘doom-prog’. Rhythmically, the music has its share of odd time-changes and does have some echoes of KING CRIMSON at their heaviest, but personally I think it's way too sludgy to be actual prog. Like said, "The Slow Decay" is a very appropriate title for this record. Not only are all tracks between 5 and 9 minutes (and they do take their time building up), the atmosphere is also far from pretty. What I like best is the excellent production: smooth, without becoming too slick. You can actually hear each player’ part, not exactly a given with this kind of music.

With "The Slow Decay", JUMBO'S KILLCRANE does not offer you anything that hasn’t been heard before, but I still think they pull it off more convincingly than your average EYEHATEGOD-clone. They sure stand out in a “genre” that I think is becoming a bit overpopulated. If you like your doom/sludge to have some substance and if REBREATHER with math-rock passages and an emotional John Tardy (OBITUARY) on vocals, sound like something you might enjoy, you may want to check this out.

- Van Hoften

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