Review: “Nihilistic Majesties” by The Larches

“This record is a sermon from the void — five hymns for a world unravelling. It’s the sound of what’s left when everything else burns away.” ~ Noah Annandale

Inspired by the likes of Acid Bath, Eyehategod and Crowbar, Middlesbrough Sludge Metal outfit The Larches began making a name for themselves with the waterfall release of an unholy trinity of singles in “The Skin I Live In“, “Ego Death” and “Defenestration Blues“. Tunes to help you breathe more easily combining crushing low end weight with emotional intensity so as to drag the discerning listener through primordial tar pits of despair, defiance and decay. Taking that one step further, their debut EP “Nihilistic Majesties” promises an exploration of the bleak themes of isolation and collapse with the hope of endurance against all odds…

Charging around like a bull in a china shop with the raw intensity of a Raging Speedhorn demo “Raxidermy” finds The Larches declaring war on an unsuspecting world with dirty, fuzzed up groove laden riffs and funky bass lines, Annandale’s unclean vocals as emotionally charged as they are harsh. A statement piece of an angry anthem, it has been recorded in such a way that it almost sounds like a live performance, capturing all of the energy that the band take to the stage and committing it to tape without sacrificing even a drop. “Smother the Hero” introduces some cleaner vocals which have a southern twang to them as the band lean into some Traditional Heavy Metal influences and move into Corrosion Of Conformity territory. Don’t get it twisted though, it’s not some kind of power ballad as the band crush with down tuned distortion and visceral screams to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Annandale is spitting bile by the time “Corrosion of Conscious” comes around, the pile driving riffs and pounding percussion of the records shortest tunes making it one of the bands strongest. Underneath the weight of the sonic abrasions you might notice some early Rage Against The Machine inspired riffs but it’s the raw aggression of this one that ensures it makes an impact. Twisting and contorting “Drought” offers an eerie, haunting melody with hints of acid jazz and PJ Harvey with a toxic, blues like quality before rising to their trademark hard hitting sounds which creates a powerful tsunami like crescendo mid cut. The transition between the styles is masterfully done and while on the surface it might seem like a risk, it has paid off handsomely by offering something a bit left field that expands their horizons. After that powerhouse track the sleaze rock inspired punch in the face that is “Dopeslut” might be the last thing you’d expect but actually it works because the churn and burn riffs are just so damn dirty and the blistering solo is the cherry on top [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Raxidermy
2. Smother the Hero
3. Corrosion of Conscious
4. Drought
5. Dopeslut

“Nihilistic Majesties” by The Larches is out 24th July 2026 and is available over at bandcamp