Unfortunately, we haven’t really heard much from the trio since the release of their brilliant sophomore album, Dormiveglia. From what can be read online, life got in the way, and one thing led to another; the band went dormant for eleven long years, during which many sludge fans wondered what had happened to them. Then earlier this year, we got the pleasant surprise to hear that a new Trudger album was on the way. In other words, they are so back, baby.
Void Quest is the newest release from Trudger via Floodlit Recordings, a Manchester-based small label headed by Pijn‘s Joe Clayton, and, after the first listen, it is undeniable that Trudger wanted this return to form to be something that feels fresh and new, whilst sounding eerily familiar and comforting. As much as your idea of comfort resembles raw energy, delicious sludgy riffs and gloomy lyrics about war, greed and all the things about our society that grinds our gears more than we would like to admit. The opening track, ‘Merciless Sabre’, spares us no time with pleasantries and takes us right back where they originally left off all those years ago. Chris Parkinson sounds as raving mad now as he did back in 2014, the rhythm section (Chris Leak on drums and Richard Matheson on bass) is as boisterous as ever, and Jack Kavanagh’s riffs are just as tasty now as they were then. It just hits you right in the feels.
The structure of the album feels perfectly coherent, as their excellent single ‘Occupied Frequency’ comes right after, and this one is made for the gigs, almost like an anthem but far less serious. Other highlights of this album include ‘Tethered System’ and ‘Sleep Purge’, whilst ‘Battle Hardened’ goes awfully hard as if you were being slapped from all sides, definitely set up to be a fan favourite over time. Some sceptics could liken their sound to what Mastodon used to do in the early naughties, but the real sludge connoisseurs will say that the comparison is only made because of how the melodies are being put together and tied around the heavier parts, which are very apparent when you listen to ‘Bile Elixir’ and ‘God Rest’. Mastodon stomped, so Trudger could merrily trot in our collective minds – and hopefully to a concert venue near you.
Void Quest is a brilliant album, which deserves all the love in the world but also, reminds us, mere non-Tyke mortals, to never mess with Yorkshire. It’s a great introduction to the UK sludge scene if you are not familiar, as this album will push you to the heavier side of the “neo-crust sci-fi death sludge” universe Trudger has set up especially for you and your ears.