Kurokuma - Advorsus EP Review ⚡️ - More Fuzz Stoner Rock Blog

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Prepare to be violated by deathly grooves and tribal tones!

Advorsus is the latest EP from Steel City Sludgers, Kurokuma. They showed it was possible to diverge from the normal sludge mold with their first Demo in 2014, and have been churning up the Northern Doom scene since with their new material.

Heavily involved in the UK Sludge/Doom/Stoner scene, Kurokuma won’t be an unheard of name to some, but being the new band, there’s still an element of ‘having to prove themselves’ that hovers around new releases; and they really have with this powerhouse of an EP.

How is the sound ?

Clocking in at just over 20mins with 3 songs, you’d be expecting the tried and tested formula of ‘find a good riff, and ride it’ to bulk out these tracks, but no. Instead, each track takes you on a dark and groovy journey, through tribal beats, gnarly growls and serious tone.

The EP chugs to life with ‘Lust’. Throwing down a simple, but heavy riff, the song builds, gaining mass before rolling out into a full blown body mover. Simple loops coupled with a good groove will get you moving your head with a chilled rhythm, and before you know it, the body’s going too; not something you’d expect from sludge!
And then in with the cowbell!
For a heavy song, there really are some feelings of guilty pleasure at play. As the song climaxes, guitar and bass strip right back into a black, filthy riff.

The EP’s off to a good start.

The fade out of ‘Lust’ rides through into the hypnotic rhythm of jemby and dark echoing riffs of ‘Dark Triad’. Distortion layers up as the song builds before crashing into discordant chugs and thumping bass. The texture is fluid throughout, dropping down and thickening up in a matter of bars, with dual vocals, choked and airy, coupled with raw and wretched. The vocals really come into their own in this song, utilising both vocalists to their potentials. Once you’re entranced by the Dark Triad vibes, the song begins to blur into layered tremolo disorientation. Beats continue, as the guitar becomes more frantic, before unleashing a powerful ending beatdown.

Advorsus sees us out with ‘Kali’, the Dark Mother and liberator of souls; a real brutal god to get Kurokuma’s sludgy teeth into.
A slow building fade punctured by a full band assault. This song starts strong with a heavy, trudging, all band beat, covered in raw and scathing vocals. The vibes are dark and powerful. Kurokuma skirts the void between sludge and black, while holding their knack for tribal grooves above all. Venture on a vision quest through the Baba’s void, before clunking back into a sludgy outro.

Kurokuma really have smashed it with this new release. Sure, sometimes we could do with ‘more cowbell’ in the mix at points, but as a first true release, this has all the ideas and tone of a band that’s been long hard at work and have perfected their sound.

These guys aren’t the new kids. Kurokuma has turned up to the party with their shrunken heads, slammed them down on the floor and asserted their place in the room.

Why is this album worth listening ?

It’s sludge that makes you go, ‘O!’
Hear Kurokuma before they really crack the ground.
To prepare yourself for the ear beating their tour is bringing to your neck of the woods.

In what situation you should listen to this album ?

In a tightly packed venue, with the lights low, and lungs full of the devil’s finest.

Something particular to note ?

Advorsus is available on Cassette (a really sick piece of gear), and as a digital download on Medusa Crush Recordings.
Advorsus is also streaming on Spotify.

Kurokuma are embarking on a UK tour on the 12th of October. See their facebook for dates and more info.