Album Review: Row of Ashes – Bleaching Heat (Surviving Sounds)

Surviving Sounds proudly present the new album ‘Bleaching Heat’ from London based noisy sludge metal trio Row of Ashes – to be released on cassette and digital on May 6th 2022.

Let’s call this what it is. Filth. Utter filth.

Fuzzy and feedback laden noise that feels sticky and thick. Row of Ashes combine the intensity of sludge metal with the chaotic nature of noise. The end result is a blistering and brash eight-track effort that will appeal to all who want to roll around in the mud for a while.

Chances are, even if that thought fills you with horror, one listen to Bleaching Heat will encourage you join the masses enjoying the grime.

So what is about this album that conjures up such imagery? It’s simply the ferocious heavy passion that Row of Ashes exude. From the very start, with the absolute wave of noise that crashes over you, things heat up. Going from a stifling warmth to a full-on inferno far quicker than you can imagine.

Though amongst the sweat-drenched chaotic sludge noise, Row of Ashes also have a surprise or two. One being, the atmospheric and melodic first half of The Wreck & The Mill and another being the weird and eerie sounds that make up Machining Statues.

Credit where credit is due, these moments and tone shifts stand out just as strongly as the filthy and savage heaviness the band spend most of their time focusing on. Probably because it allows you to take a deep, uncomfortable but necessary breath, before diving back into the airless heaviness.

Row of Ashes – Bleaching Heat Full Track Listing:

1. Worcester Man
2. Bleaching Heat
3. Jerk
4. The Wreck & The Mill
5. The Next Away
6. Machining Statues
7. Contraband
8. In Summation

Links

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