Album Review: Callus - A Breath of Flesh Air
Reviewed by Paul Hutchings
My reason for reviewing this second full release from Lancaster’s Callus is based solely on their stellar performance at Badger Fest mere weeks ago. Searching through the archives, I realise that I’d seen the band supporting Control the Storm in Bristol’s Gryphon over two years ago. I’d not been overly impressed with the band on that sweltering August evening, but things have changed somewhat since then.
Recorded by Chris Fielding at Foel Studios, ‘A Breath of Flesh Air’ combines elements of thrash, stoner, punk, and doom in one massive fire ball of explosive aggression. From the fuzzed-up stomp of opener ‘Molar Crown’, it’s an album that’s taken a huge step forward from the 2019 debut ‘Hogpocalypse’. Yes, the early Mastodon influences are still there, but Callus aren’t walking the tribute line; this is original face slapping heavy stuff.
When they hit top gear with their dual vocals then Callus are unstoppable. ‘Cinderstella’ is a skull pounder, the pace frenetic, the bulging bass dominant whilst the riff is allowed free reign to explore. ‘Toadfish is not only a brilliant name, but a doom-laden ride through infested rapids. The semi-acoustic elements juxtaposing perfectly with the riff wall.
Whilst Callus combine the heavier end of the stoner vibe, there’s no real genre pinning to be done here. They move ghost-like between styles, retaining the thumping flavours which demand you nod your head and stamp the feet. The penultimate ride is the best. Ten-minutes of the infectious roaring ‘Fatberg’ is the musical equivalent of being trapped in a cyclone, and the addition of the atmospheric slower segments merely enhances and draws the listener closer. This is a magnificent opus that leads neatly into the two-minute finale of ‘Sludge Guzzler’ which rounds off an album that contains everything you could want in 30 minutes.
