20 Best Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums Of 2018 (So Far)
4. Slugdge – Esoteric Malacology
From first glance, Slugdge look… stupid. Their “gimmick” is that all of their lyrics are about slugs and the cover for their new album, Esoteric Malacology, looks like rejected Rick and Morty concept art.
But then you listen to them. And then you feel bad for ever dismissing or overlooking this sensational British twosome. Beneath all the silliness, this Lancashire duo are an amalgamation of the very best bands that extreme prog can conjure up. Mixing Mastodon, Gojira, Edge of Sanity and every wet dream you’ve ever had, this outfit and their fourth full-length disc are not to be trifled with.
Esoteric Malacology is a disc that, through unrelenting technicality, heaviness and melody, proves how inalienably fantastic the extreme music underground truly is. Despite Slugdge’s burial deep in a saturated scene, they shine with a confidence and adventurousness that can rival the most mature and popular of metal bands.
Every groove, every riff and every evocative vocal line permeates pure, provocative mania with a sophisticated edge, destined to slingshot Slugdge into far greener and far more prosperous pastures in the very near future.