I don’t know what it is, but I have a real special feeling when I listen to this record. Knowing that Limb hail from London as well makes me feel dead proud that not only can they compete with any of their contemporaries sonically but being only 75 miles from London myself they feel like locals too. Hearing this makes me (and will make you) desperately want to see them play live, and living so close I don’t think it will be too long until I fulfil the urge
So what do they sound like?
BOOM.
Instantly you’re struck with a fat sludgy riff that literally grinds a place into your head until it’s stuck there. There is a natural groove that thumps it way through the track. Maybe it’s those belting drums that do it, slinky yet brutal in their attack. Off kilter rhythms are quickly usurped by straight patterns and then switch back all the while the riff, OH THAT RIFF, pounds on and on. It’s clever and adds a further dynamic to what already is a fairly textured album from a doom band.
By the time the album ends with the slower paced ‘Vathek’, a hook-fuelled monster that contains a vocal delivered by Rob Hoey that manages to sound tuneful and gruff at the same time it feels like you have been run through the mill. The impression that this record leaves with you is one of anger and aggression. It’s not a trippy psychedelic experience in anyway but it is all the better for it.
Even though this month has been ridiculously strong with its quality of releases the debut Limb album is easily my favourite. They play a metal fuelled stoner rock exactly how I wish bands would play metal fuelled stoner rock. I couldn’t want for anything more.
I was originally commissioned to review this for Pennyblackmusic
lostinrock 