Sludge metal act Black Tusk has garnered quite a bit of attention in the metal scene since their formation back in 2005. They are known as part of the big Savannah sludge metal trio that also consists of Baroness and Kylesa. While Baroness is known for the prog-metal elements found in their song writing, and Kylesa for their incorporation of psychedelic rock into their sound, it's the hardcore punk influence that helps separate Black Tusk from the rest of the sludge metal pack.
I first heard the 3-piece band on their second full-length release back in 2010 with Taste The Sin. It was their Relapse Record debut, and enjoyed a pretty good reception from critics and fans alike. I was very impressed with the album, but felt at times the band were trying to hard to suppress the hardcore punk influence that helped make their sound so unique. Back in 2013, the band's Tend No Wounds EP was released, and stood out perhaps even more than their previous album, for me personally. While staying true to their sludge metal roots, the band seemed to embrace not only their punk roots, but also incorporate more thrash inspired guitar riffs. Unfortunately, the band lost bassist Jonathan Athon in 2014 due to injuries sustained from a motorcycle injury. Later on in the year however, the band confirmed not only did they have an album on the way, but it was also recorded with Athon, and would be his final piece of work with Black Tusk.
Going into the new album Pillars of Ash, I was hoping to see the band truly allow both the hardcore punk and thrash influences that made be believe they had potential in the first place to come through on their sound. Not only did the band do that, but we also were given tracks where the band went nearly full-out hardcore punk. Punkout, thanks to it's groovy opening bass line, lightning fast drumming, and clearly punk oriented guitar riff, makes it clear that the name isn't the only punk aspect to this track. The shouty chorus accompanied with it's anti-government lyrics make for a great track, but because of the rest of the project being less punk flavoured, the track doesn't flow very well with the album. Damned in the Ground is another track that shows the band using elements of their hardcore past, as the guitar play seems to be very similar to that found on Converge's Jane Doe album.
Despite Punkout not fitting in with the track-listing, the majority of the 34 minute runtime does, and the band puts together some of my favorite material in their catalogue. Desolation in Endless Times and Walk Among the Sky are two tracks that immediately stood out to me, thanks to the thrash metal vocal style on the former, and the tremolo picked guitar lead that transformed into a very sludgy sounding riff on the latter. As the album continues on, it felt as if it was building to an epic closing track, which is, disappointingly not at all the case. Instead, Leveling, the final cut on Pillars of Ash features about a minute and a half of fairly hectic metal, before making way to the track's piano outro of the same length that feels completely off paced compared to the chaotic nature the album has presented throughout every other track.
It's definitely a stretch to compare Black Tusk to fellow Savannah based bands Baroness and Kylesa, but much like those two bands released some of their best material last year, Black Tusk came through and released a fantastic addition to their discography as well.
Favorite Tracks: Desolation in Endless Times, Damned in the Ground, Walk Among the Sky,
Least Favorite Tracks: Leveling
Rating: 4/5
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