Saltpig – Saltpig
Saltpig – Self Titled
Heavy Psych Sounds
Release date: 31/05/2024
Running time: 39:00
Review by: Alun Jones
8.5/10
Here go with a tasty treat, the wonderfully named Saltpig with their self-titled debut album. Who are Saltpig? The band is a duo consisting of drummer Fabio Alessandrini (formerly of Annihilator) and Mitch Davis (formerly of everyone, from Mark Lanegan and U2 to Damon Albarn, crazy!) on everything else. Together they have created this mysterious yet compelling piece of work, released by the ever-reliable Heavy Psych Sounds.
The musician’s previous experience is superficially surprising, as Saltpig’s album is a rutting beast comprised of Doom, Stoner, Psych and Occult Rock parts in equal measure. Filthy, fuzzy riffs and manically clattering drums are what we get, and we get it good – right from the rolling, rollicking menace of ‘Satan’s War’ onwards.
Gutsy and powerful, not bloated, the next four tracks follow the opener in a similar unforgivingly retro style. Songs like ‘Demon’ and ‘Burning Water ‘ go unashamedly full throttle, proto metal with bouncy rhythms, aggression and melody.
‘When You Were Dead’ slows the pace slightly for a classic Sabbath gloom rocker. ‘Burn the Witch’ has a slinkier, groovier feel and ticks the obscure horror film dialogue box, too. No idea where that sample is taken from, but I feel I should…
Finally, this all leads up to a mega epic called ‘1950’, nigh on twenty-minutes of repetitive, fuzz drenched pummelling guitar and distorted vocals that builds slowly, has only subtle variation for the most part and threatens to drive the listener mad. That may sound like hell to some, but I bloody loved it. It’s a dark, tormenting, almost religious experience and strangely intriguing.
Saltpig’s first album is an enigma: heavy as hell, brutal, surprising, hypnotic and fascinating. I’ve slapped on an easily deserved score of 8.5, but this could go higher over time.
Anyone fancy a bacon sandwich?
TRACKLISTING
01. Satan’s War
02. Demon
03. Burning Water
04. When You Were Dead
05. Burn The Witch
06. 1950
LINE-UP
Mitch Davis – vocals, guitar, noises
Fabio Alessandrini – drums
LINKS
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