Review: “Colossal Oppressor” by Ten Ton Slug

It may have been five long years since their last confession was committed to tape but as they say, good things come to those who wait. Galway Ireland is home to Bloodstock survivors Ten Ton Slug a Groove orientated Sludge Metal band who give us their first studio album “Colossal Oppressor” after an unholy trinity of EPs and a live record. Mixed and mastered at Trackmix Recording Studio Dublin by Michael Richards (Aesect, Sonus Mortis, Death Dealer Union) having been recorded at Ciaran Culhane Recording (Iron Mountain, Shardborne, Dark Matter) in Limerick, it follows 2019 stand alone single “Hunting Ground” out of Hells gate…

A sublime and subtly dark almost Spaghetti Western style introduction ushers in “The Ooze” by creating the atmospheric foundation for something heavier to rise from the black depths. Screaming for catharsis Rónán O ‘hArrachtáin offers distinctive unclean vocals soaked in pain while the band float in the Bermuda Triangle between Sludge, Doom and Death Metal. Powerful and soul stirring Ten Ton Slug draw you into the void only to crush you in Crocodiles death roll as “Balor” picks up the pace. Capturing the energy of their live performances like lightening in a bottle, while the last one had the sombre sobering feel of Crowbar at their finest, this one paints a different picture with heavier riffs and a classy pick slide. There can be no doubting the rhythmic prowess of Ten Ton Slug with drummer Micheal Sullivan metronomic behind the kit, his powerful and clever fills offering a little more nuance than one might expect further down the line.

Collapsing the mountain with “Ancient Ways“, the bass from Pavol Rosa bleeds through the mix as the band offer something that Raging Speedhorn would be proud to call their own. The grooves run deeper than Jägermeister, like a lava flow from a volcano to the sea and the tasteful extended almost Stoner Metal solo from guitarist Sean Sullivan is nothing short of masterful. Sometimes bands shift their style to create something more in keeping with their guests but with “Brutus” which features Karl Willetts of Memoriam and Bolt Thrower fame Ten Ton Slug stick to their guns. Dark and anvil heavy the band grind their way through mid tempo Death Metal orientated Groove, distilling the riffs down to the bare essentials for maximum impact.

Throwing fuel on the fire and increasing the intensity, “Mindless and Blind” reaches Frozen Soul territory, the vocals having a similar texture to those of Chad Green as the guitars begin the descent into madness in Old School fashion. Make no mistake, these are riffs fit for worship that have been crafted with intent and the musicianship the band have poured into this is as obvious as a hammer smashed thumb. Picking up where the opening cut started, “Ghosts of the Ooze” offers a return to the bluesy atmosphere and a slow aged whiskey soaked piece of lead that is absolute class. It could easily be the instrumental behind the closing credits of an episode of Westworld, it’s that good. Serving as a palate cleanser it allows the Gaelic sung vocals of “Mallacht an tSloda” (or “Curse of the Sludge“) to hit like a prize fighter. This one has at its bitter black heart a majestic solo underpinned by solid bass groove, the caustic vocal performance perhaps suggesting that there is more meaning behind it.

A nine and a half minute surpassing magnum opus of a track, “Mogore the Unkind” begins with a slow trudge through tar pits that have claimed ancient beasts. A cut for contemplation that is best served with a cold beer, the pace picks up a notch after four minutes or so to give us a pre-breakdown style heavy mid section of gargantuan proportions. There is that feeling that something wicked this way comes and the band maintain that sinister urge with menace before going low and slow for a grand finale of bowel clenching vocals that summon demons from the abyss. It’s something they did with “Siege” on 2017 EP “Blood And Slime” but here there is more of everything and as the cliché goes the album is very much the culmination of everything that came before it. The power Ten Ton Slug possess is not to be underestimated… [8/10]

Track Listing

1. The Ooze
2. Balor
3. Ancient Ways
4. Brutus (ft. Karl Willetts of Memoriam, Bolt Thrower)
5. Mindless and Blind
6. Ghosts of the Ooze
7. Mallacht an tSloda
8. Mogore the Unkind

“Colossal Oppressor” by Ten Ton Slug is out 1st May 2024 and is available over at bandcamp