- https://thundergoat1.bandcamp.com/
- Release Date: 08/1/2024
- Engineered by Bryan W. Fleming – Mastered by Evan Yoakum at Red Shed Records
- Tags: sludge metal, extreme metal, doom metal, downtuned metal, stoner metal, experimental metal,
Setup
In an era where a lot of bands are try-harding their way to sound like everyone else, this Wisconsin based 3-piece blur the lines between a multitude of subgenres and create a sound all their own. They dropped their debut single, Black Hole Coven, in early 2023, heralding the release of their full length A Western Galactic Space Odyssey: The Beginning a few months later. Fast forward roughly 1.5 years and Labyrinthian Scales teleported onto the scene.
If you’re the sort of person who wants things to fit into easily definable boxes, or agonize for hours of what sub-sub-sub-sub-genre a band fits into, Thundergoat is going to piss all over your school of thought. These dues are best defined as undefinable. So, be prepared to stick that in your sub-genre bong and toke hard.
Fresh Meat
Someone told me a long time ago that “there’s a big difference between a pile of riffs and a song.” That’s a can of worms for sure. Some musicians are great at writing riffs, building arrangements that progress, complement, contrast and build on said riffs. Others are storytellers. Both can produce equally cool results as long as the talent, skill and hardwork are in the recipe as well.
Thundergoat is anything but a pile of riffs. These dudes are not just telling stories with each song, but it seems their entire catalog is an interconnected universe of sonic storytelling.
This EP launches with Ethereal Form, almost more a headphone-centric intro of science fiction soundscapes.
From there, Terpenetaur takes over in a slightly more traditional-song sense, bridging the gap between the 1st and 3rd songs.
Jake the Stoner Snake Roberts kicks in and continues the story Thundergoat is chronicling. If you’re after something more akin to standard song, this is the one. Cool grooves that have Clutch and Maryland Doom vibes covered in raspy vocals that give way to some cleans that elevate the song before the growls drag us back into the subterranean caverns below.
The EP ends with Void Salts, something more Outro than song, pulsing along with a mesmerizing sonic signature.
The Kill
If you’re looking something other than the standard fare, or the latest take on old school or modern metal, but love it heavy and weird, Thundergoat is your jam. They might be more at home on tour with Pink Floyd than Metallica, but they’re undeniably heavy, original and interesting to listen to again and again.
For those who live for the negatives: this EP is roughly 13 minutes long and Jake… is really the only song one might expect them to play live or have others add to radio shows, podcasts, playlists etc. The rest is ambient intro/outro, spacey, headphone stuff that may not find an audience for repeated listening.
Final Thoughts
While it’s almost more a single with extras, this EP is a great entry point to the alternative universe that is Thundergoat. They’re playing at the Underground Music Cafe with Phase Meridian and a few others on Thursday, April 17th. Check ’em out and digest this intergalactic, mind-bending band for yourself. Heavy, talented and unique.
Review by Iron Mike
