Album Review: Thou - Umbilical

Thou

Umbilical

***and 1/2 out of *****

The Baton Rouge, Louisiana based sludge veterans Thou have released Umbilical, a monstrous collection pounding tunes that crash and scream with aggression and angst. 

The band Bryan Funck – vocals, Andy Gibbs – guitar, Matthew Thudium – guitar, Mitch Wells – bass, Tyler Coburn – drums, KC Stafford – guitar/bass/vocals continue with their heavy ways on this album but also pay homage to more alternative bands with slightly less aggressive numbers that channel acts like Nirvana, Soundgarden and other artists that Thou have covered in the past. 

The opening "Narcissist's Prayer" uses screaming vocals and slow thudding riffs that are fuzzed out past the point of frying as "Time To Die" is repeated to close; nothing soft here. The rumbling bass and drums push "Emotional Terrorist" forward while the speaker shaking fuzz riffs contort the slow prodding power of "I Returned As Chained and Bound To You" which unfortunately sticks around too long. 

Better is the pummeling and fast motor of "I Feel Nothing When You Cry" and "Lonely Vigil" which sounds like a storm, slowly rolling in with thundering drums and static feedback as fuzzy guitar riffs rain down with more squirreling riffs under the surface blowing like the wind. The vocals for all acts in this genre can become grating, however towards the end of "Unbidden Guest" the wails become just another instrument in the rising sounds, working well. 

The band moves slightly less extreme with both "The Promise" which is slightly upbeat, with a good groove, lyrics that can be understood and killer percussion break to end, as well as "Panic Stricken, I Flee" which sounds like a supped up version of Alice In Chains. Both work well but the band returns to bombastic bread and butter on album closer "Siege Perilous" as slow pounding drums and screeching guitars wrap up the strong album.   

  

Slight sonic shifts help widen Thou's scope a touch on Umbilical, however the bands power and ferocity is never diluted.

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