Review Summary: Face down in the sludge...
Covers can often be misleading, in more ways than one. While metal is universally known as a genre that is infamous for being brutally honest with its listeners, Sludge metal band
Ape Cave really went the extra mile with their album cover. Depicting the destruction of an ancient society through a supernatural disaster, the decrepit artwork can be seen as the soul step that takes the listener from the serine, luscious, technical and civilized nature we know in modern music back to the tribal harsh calamities the niche sub-genre is known for. Yet, in the wake of the simpler destruction Sludge metal is known for, the band has ended up creating a divine medium between the often elementary techniques of their fellow snails and the more calibrated applications of other metal groups. This comes off extremely well, resulting in an album that tends to mix the heavy tendencies of the sub genre's contemporaries with a more melodic and rhythmic structure, given direction to the often overly chaotic music style.
There are multiple reasons for the bands successful fusion of unlikely elements. Besides the sublime writing - the cast of musicians themselves is fairly impressive for a new act. Nathan Nielson and Gage Dean both show themselves as accomplished vocalists, often giving multiple performances each throughout a single song, and giving some tracks a new personality
(Road to Ladakh/Pyramid in particular). Guitarist Paul McGaha also gives the album a life of its own. Though Sludge metal is usually accompanied by drawn out or dragging guitar work, the guitars on
Pillars of Evolution often feel more driven, akin to the likes of
Mastodon, providing more meaning to a songs progression than what some sludgers might be accustom to. Bobby Rosson often sets up a more dynamic beat than most drummers out there. And aforementioned Gage Dean contributes additionally through the fuzzy buzzing bass lines on the record. While these musicians aren't virtuoso's by any stretch of the imagination, their ability to add a more thriving and motivated sound makes them stand out a bit more in the often sluggish sub-genre, while still providing the drowsy riffs that made such an interesting section of metal to begin with.
Road to Ladakh is a good example, with an enthralling opening guitar segment enacting an uprising in sound, until the groggy yet catchy chorus kicks in. Or
Ape Cave, which starts like a foggy bong mist and turns into a rocker with sacred backing electric hums coming from Paul McGaha's guitar.
If there was a single problem with
Pillars Of Evolution, it would have to be the run time. I never understand why so many groups out there tend to shoot themselves in the foot with lengthy debuts, but it has happened in this case. Oh don't get me wrong - there really isn't a single bad track here, and this seems less like an actual puncture to a vital organ and more like a cut of the wrist. But it is a needless wound none the less, and
Ape Cave have exposed the idea of repetition to their music. Though the music is still more engaging throughout than most of their competitor's fair, making the album more cohesive would have raised the quality up a bit. It's not as much of a problem with the idea of a long run time per say, as much as it is a problem with singular writing. Had songs carried with them greater diversity, I'd imagine this album would have no problem getting a higher grade.
Overall,
Pillars of Evolution is an amazing debut. It has a problem with stretched out content, and often feels limited in its scope. But there truly is no sore thumb, and the tracks that stand out here truly feel like memorable fair. Highly recommended.
Recommended :
Vesuvius
Ape Cave
Road to Ladakh
Pharaoh's Eclipse
Pyramid
