Written by: Blackie Skulless
Worm are an outfit that I find extremely fascinating, for nothing more than the way they took the doom/death style that I often credit to having a one-to-two album shelf-life and breaking that precedent entirely. 2019’s Gloomlord was the album that put them “on the map” (and on my radar), but it wasn’t until Foreverglade that they became a force I felt worth reckoning with, and to this day I get little out of the first two records. When that record dropped, I could only surmise moving forward that maybe the North Americans had one more worthwhile disc in them, which then came in the form of Bluenothing, an EP that could pass for a full-length to some bands. Having established themselves as an oddball black/death/doom hybrid, I really couldn’t imagine what more could come. I say this not only because that’s a lot to swallow as is, but realizing the latest effort Necropalace crossed the hour long mark made me think even more that this would just be more of the same stuff but longer. But good lord man, here we are! I can’t in full honesty claim the “doom” aspect of this sound on album number four has gone away, as it’s packed with stomping crawls of fury, and “space between the space” caveman-isms that tend to define the doom/death world. Yet, I do think we’ve reached a point where that’s now simply a facet and no longer a base ingredient, and the death metal traces are more distant, other than in sheer feel.
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In a continuing attempt to cover more music that would all-too-oft slip through the very large cracks, we slumbering scribes are making an effort to publish short reviews at a greater frequency, thereby shining our very small spotlight on more cool shit. Without further ado: a new single from the one-man act that released one of my favorite albums of 2021.
Written by: The Administrator
Four long years ago, I reviewed Underking's fantastic At Hell's Gate, wherein I offered nothing but sympathy and condolences for those who weren't enthralled with Maxwell Jeffries' penchant for catchy-as-hell songwriting. Said album was one of my favorites of 2021, and I return to it quite often when looking for some nerdy (complimentary) heavy metal excellence. Needless to say, this slumbering scribe has been primed and ready for some fresh music from Underking. Four long years later, Underking is back without missing a step. Indeed, new single "The Isle of Crooked Stone" feels like an unearthed gem from a begone era--it sounds like it could sit comfortably in the midst of the At Hell's Gate tracklist. For the unfamiliar, Underking sits at the feel-good crossroads of heavy metal, power metal, and hard rock. The riffs are engaging, the choruses triumphant, and the vibes immaculate. Thematically, the lyrics tend to focus overtly on a fantastical or sci-fi property, with previous tracks honing in on Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and so on. Every track is imbued with a clear love for the material that inspired it. Nothing feels gimmicky. Keeping with the brand, "The Isle of Crooked Stone" is an homage to Critical Role’s second campaign. This track is notably anthemic across the board. It is bright and uplifting. It builds and swells with a certain exultance, with Jeffries' excellent and often powerful vocals feeling as confident as ever. I'm a particular fan of the chorus, which ranks among the most catchy and singalongable in the catalogue. And, as with many Underking tracks, "The Isle of Crooked Stone" is short and sweet, wisely ending before I want it to. As a result, the track leaves in its wake a palpable desire to run it back. I've said it before and I'll say it again: Underking is vastly underrated. I'm a big fan of this track, and am inordinately excited to hear whatever else is forthcoming from the Underking camp. Underking - "Isle of Crooked Stone" was released March 14th, 2025. Find it here, and listen below! |
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