Finnish sludge merchants return with their first new album in five years. 10/10
Finnish band Throat have been around since 2009 and new album Bareback is their 13th release but only their second album. So far the band have mainly released split 7″ singles and three EPs – they are as underground as it gets. Inspired by TAD, Godflesh, The Rollins Band, Helmet and Fudge Tunnel, Throat are just as uncompromising as their role models, they don’t have Twitter and there’s only four mentions of them on there; they have 1,300 likes on Facebook. With a fan base that is small but consists of some pretty respected musicians; Throat are that band that no one has ever heard of, apart from those seriously in the know – the music industry’s secret. Until now.
Bareback is an eclectic mix of noise, sludge and hardcore which on times breaks into catchy tunes with a sound like The Melvins or early Nirvana. No Hard Shoulder is a great example of a song that is raw, yet is an ear worm and it’s no wonder that was the song chosen to promote the album on YouTube as it sits smack in the middle of the Throat spectrum. Maritime is almost driving music with it’s fast paced melodic riffing that would be the perfect backdrop for Grand Theft Auto or the Need For Speed games while Shortage (Version) is the total opposite in being a wall of super heavy noise a la Godflesh. In the mid range you have Recut and Rat Domain which not only border on Tool‘s territory but also sound like an evil Isis (the band, not the terror group) or a really angry Pelican (the band, not the bird) with monstrously huge riffs, time changes and unsettling mood.
It’s easy to see why when you mention Throat to even the biggest of hardcore or sludge fans, they’ll respond with, “who?” yet when you speak to people in musical circles, there’s high praise and a large dose of respect. This is a must have album for any self respecting fan of this style of music, if even for just the bragging rights of knowing who they are and having it in your playlist.
You can thank us later.
5 out of 5 (Revised to 10 out of 10)
Bareback is released on August 31st via Svart and can be preordered on Amazon
Go give Throat a like on Facebook too.
Metal Report Editor.
Ex guitarist in Zenopede, ex vocals for a goth covers band that was hailed as the future of Welsh music, former DJ, promoter and nightclub director. Writer for Gear4Geeks’ Blog4Geeks and owner of Gear4Geeks ltd. First published music critique was Kerrang letter of the Week.
Definitely has never been the future, present or past of Welsh music.