Artist: Eyehategod
Label: Century Media
Release Date: 9/19/00
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Title: Confederacy of Ruined Lives Artist: Eyehategod Label: Century Media Release Date: 9/19/00 |
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Abyss's Review:
Eyehategod return with an album full of doom that gives more feedback than a Jehovah's Witness. They continue in their tradition of harsh screaming over brooding, Louisiana sludgecore. There are but two tempos, slow and stop, and while I usually like the speeds to vary a little more, these guys combine heart and memorable riffs that keep me from getting bored.
In its best moments, it reminds me of slower Acid Bath, and if the album hits me as a little one-dimensional, it's because that's the nature of this genre. Of course the Sabbath influence is the most prevalent, in both song structure and tone. And these guys, more often than not, come up with songs that are competitive and original, despite how derivative they are. I know that's a contradictory statement that makes no sense, but it's the only way I can put it.
"Eyehategod continue in their tradition of harsh screaming over brooding, Louisiana sludgecore." My early favorites on the album are "Blood Money" and "Inferior and Full of Anxiety". The latter mostly because it is the most individualistic song on the record, and it diverges from structure in a way that I usually only hear in ultra paced genres like grindcore. The only bad thing I have to say is that they might actually overuse the feedback intro/outro thing. This is evidenced best by the track ".001%" which is basically 6 minutes and 23 seconds of a sound check gone wrong. I don't really know what they were trying to do with that one, but they definitely lost me.
But aside from those little pet peeves, this is a strong album that will continue to enthrall fans, and it's complete enough for those who don't know much about this band to have an excuse to become acquainted with them.
Death's Review:
Sloooooooow. Resin-caked. Extreme. Swampy. Fuzz-toned. Hardcore. Sticky. Sick. Sabbath. Trouble. Black Flag. C.O.C. If any of these descriptors appeal to you, you may want to check out the return of Eyehategod, New Orleans' slowest. The band has risen up from the tar, back from the alleged dead, and have resurfaced with a new studio record out on Century Media. Fuck yes, and just in time. The world needs this wake-up call of extreme metal with slower grooves - the shit on Confederacy is so heavy it'd make a life jacket sink. How to describe the sound? Soilent Green without the grind-influenced blast beats? C.O.C. with its Sabbath dosage doubled, the Southern-rock diluted and stripped of all commercial ambition? However you describe it, Eyehategod bludgeon the world. Welcome back.
"The world needs this wake-up call of extreme metal with slower grooves."
Confederacy's stand out track for me is its second, "Blood Money." But it's not really about tracks, songs, singles or even riffs. Eyehategod is more of a feel, a slow and angry state of mind. Shit, the whole N.O., LA thing is really getting into my head lately. This is real shit people, played in nasty clubs jam-packed with sweaty people who all smell like beer. This is stoner rock for the hardcore set. This is doom metal for those who love grind. This is Eye Hate Mother Fuckin' God. The tastiest, stickiest buds of the extreme (and extremely slow) metal underground. Check it out.
"This is stoner rock for the hardcore set. This is doom metal for those who love grind."
Hel's Review:
If I were a betting woman, I'd wager that Abyss will once again provide his usual historical overview and fill in those details for the die-hard, longtime Eyehategod fans. Me, I'm an Eyehategod newbie, so I'm thankful not to have to perform that task. Regardless, I did know the background of the band, and their reputation, so I had an idea of what I thought I was getting into.
It is basically just what I expected - down & dirty Southern Sludge. Confederacy of Ruined Lives is musically very strong, and all the musicians are skilled. There are good parts, such as the fun dual discordant guitar "harmony" on part of "Inferior and Full of Anxiety". The title of the album is a highlight in and of itself, and the sense of humor behind all of this may be my favorite part.
"It is basically just what I expected - down & dirty Southern Sludge." One obvious complaint: the bass is so low in the mix, during songs like "Jack Ass in the Will of God", you can vaguely hear the complex fingerwork, but it generally is lost beneath the guitars & drums. My biggest complaint, however, is that it is simply just too trippy/ jammy in places for my incredibly short attention span, although it was great to go to sleep to! ".001%" is the epitome of what I am referring to. Overall, if you are a fan of such things, I suspect you'll like it. I generally enjoyed it very much.
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