De Novissimis / Wreck Of The Hesperus | 10″ Split Vinyl

De Novissimis’ bubbling cauldron is full of ingredients. From crust, to punk, to anarcho-grind and of course to sludge, they’re an interesting proposition made even more compelling by the fact that they clearly dont give much of a fuck about pleasing anyone - not least the gentle listener.

Sludge can be a drag. In many cases that’s the point. De Novissimis score though on actually going somewhere with their music. In the case of their contribution to this split, it’s writ large as each minute passes.

Starting off with the horrible noises of what sounds like some grub fizzling on a barbecue, previously unheard comparisons to Scald are now evident. Well, Scald’s more out there stuff at any rate, and fans of ‘Headworm’ and ‘Vermiculatus’ that hadn’t previously acquainted themselves with DeNov are advised to on the basis of it. A crude comparison, but it’s there.

I dont consider Wreck Of The Hesperus’ side of this split 10″ to be their best material.

It’s not that it’s bad or anything like it. But it just doesn’t summon the same feeling of total foulness that their first two releases did. The problem with it is perhaps in the mix. It’s all drum and vocal. This means that neither the full weight of the guitar nor the low undertones of the bass really make it through. Aside from that, it’s pretty much a single riff repeated with little by way of development.

At the same time though, both vocals and drums are certainly worth listening to. The screams are as nasty as they’ve ever been, while the drum fills - always a key part of WOTH’s sound - remain brilliant snatches of creativity amid the otherwise lugubrious trudge.

Granted it’s not the point with dark sludge, but I just feel that the band’s debut and subsequent follow up were the much more powerful for being based around actual songs, or at least idenifiable riffs. While this contribution to the split is of course passable, it isnt amazing - and that definition is against their own otherwise brilliant stuff. So here’s looking to their next release proper.

3.4 / 5 - Ciaran Tracey ::: 03/04/09