Since 2005 Black Tusk have been producing their own brand of sludge metal. A heady, thick brew of sounds the band lovingly refer to as “swamp metal” born in Savannah, Georgia. With a string of albums plus EP’s and split releases to their name, “The Way Forward” is the band’s latest studio effort but finds them flexing their musical muscles in more ways than one. Most significantly, the addition of Chris “Scary” Adams brings in a second guitarist while new bassist Derek Lynch keeps the bottom end extra heavy. Existing members Andrew Fidler on guitar and James May on drums ensure the Black Tusk sound stays true. Personal experiences have heavily influenced an album that explores pushing through hard times and seemingly overwhelming adversity to come through the other side with greater strength. With all members able to contribute vocals, this is going to one helluva listen.
“Out Of Grasp” blasts out of the speakers with a hardcore punk infused slab of brutality coated in swampy goodness. There’s definitely an Iron Reagan vibe in the sounds and especially the vocal delivery which gives off a sense of urgency and breathlessness. The pleasing thing though is the feel of an unstoppable force as tracks like “Brushfire” and “Harness (The Alchemist)” provide plenty of bang and groove in sub-three minute burst of aggression. Clocking in at 5:12, “Breath Of Life” is the only “longer” track and has plenty of power in every chord.
Track after track, these are pulse rate pushing stabs of irresistible metal. There feels like little room for further musical exploration as the band steers their way through these head banging blasts. The edginess of “Against The Undertow” is beautifully complemented by the proto-punk garage feel of “Lift Yourself”; the squall of feedback giving it a Stooges aura. “Flee From Dawn” has a “Sabotage” era Black Sabbath groove that occasionally reminds me of “Hole In The Sky” with its’ big, driving force. However, the title track is where the real gold lies – “The Way Forward” closes the album and starts with acoustic guitar that has an introspective feel which is quite melancholy. The delicacy isn’t lost given the album’s overall brutality, but this is soon smashed into bits unrelentingly. A huge riff that is perhaps the biggest, chunkiest slab on this LP, it is without doubt the highlight. The second guitar makes a huge difference and adds a layer that really stamps a trademark sound for them.
Black Tusk have delivered a beast in “The Way Forward”. No filler, no fluff – this is proper heavy metal that delivers a smack around the chops with every track. Clocking in at around 36 minutes, this is a breathless, urgent display and one that proves to be a mighty leap forward for the band and their sound. The twin guitars have made a huge impact and the lyrical maturity that is appearing make for a big statement. A must listen.
(8.5/10 Johnny Zed)
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