Album Review: Blunt Knife Castration - Blood & Oil
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
There was absolutely no way that I was passing up on the opportunity to review a band called Blunt Knife Castration, as the name intrigued me massively. However, what intrigued me further was that they are UK sludge metal band, and let’s be honest, who doesn’t like a bit of sludge now and again to clear out the senses.
Blunt Knife Castration is the metal project led by Kent based Simon Bryant, and they draw out aspects of metal, noise rock, doom and crust punk, and engulf them in thick musical layer of sludge, to produce some highly creative and filthy sounding songs. Opener “Miasma” guides you down the hole with what appears to be an extract from some sort of 70s/80s horror or sleaze movie, which they draw influence from. This gives way to “Gunshot Selfie” and the scream instantly hits you before the bass line pops up to lead you further into their darkened evil lair. Its riff heavy, with strong drums, blistering sounds, and a rhythm that gets your head moving.
They have a range of musical influences, Eyehategod, Neurosis, Swans, and this is evident on their tracks, as you’ll hear on “Degeneration” which is superb from start to finish. The tempo is spot on, with scary vocals and a brutal edge to the music, allowing the solos to flourish. “Lone” has a similar sinister feel about it, but I get a bit of blackened thrash in this one, as the pace sounds faster, which is great to hear. You then get properly bludgeoned with a blunt knife on the opening to “Guilt Pig” which is one of those songs that needs to be played obnoxiously loud to annoy your neighbours.
I’m enjoying the depraved and threatening sounding aspects of their music, however they mix it up at the start of “Swallow” as it’s a bit slower over the spoken word, but then a third of the way in, they are back with more evil intent. Their love of sleaze and general smut of video nasties is clear on “Play Victim” as it’s a hard-hitting song which rips along at a frantic speed, before the slow impending doom kicks in. Album title track, “Blood & Oil” is another nasty sounding song, bleaker and more depressing, especially the bass, which further enhancing their fearsome reputation.
“Menial Mutt” covers all areas, pounding drums, heavy bass and hostile guitars, before the vocal teases you in a threatening manner. “Coward” has more of an edge to the song that some of the others, but again, the rhythms are excellent and an enjoyable listen, ahead of the final song “Skinny Fingers”, an almost eight minute journey of ups and downs, full of slow foreboding eeriness which keeps you enthralled.
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