WorselderReading the promotional sheet for this short three track release had me marginally enthused as most bands try to make themselves sound different to everyone else and catch your attention from a journalistic point of view. With an album already under wraps and free to download this EP is also available for free which seems to be happening a lot via the bandcamp platform which is fine but I think bands undervalue themselves by doing so even if it does get your name out in the public domain more easily.

Opening the trio of tunes here is “The Sickening” a stoner like chug fest with an ethnic like feel to its start the song swings into a groove like rhythm that is pithy. With clean vocals used this is a very easy listen with decent guitar melodies and a hook laden delivery and it has to be said that the vocals are a major stand out covering a range of tones and styles that would envy many singers in metal. The release changes slightly for “Home Of The Grave” with its harmony lead intro riff and a more rock like feel before the stoner grit comes to the fore and some solid opaque riffing. The bass is a rumbling beast underpinning the songs fully like a locomotive as the guitar hooks dance behind the bass engine and bold drumming. Closing the release is “The Haven” and again we get another angle by the band with this tune possessing a huge range in vocals here and some bass plucking I didn’t particularly like as the tune shifts into a Black Label Society style groove. The changes in pace are excellent and carry the tune along fervently with some very good stop start riffing structures I always find enjoyable.

Compared to the full length preceding it this is more polished and possesses more cohesion and fluidity within the songs and seeing as both releases are free for you to download then you can spend a good half hour or so listening to Worselder and be thankful you did.

(6.5/10 Martin Harris)

https://www.facebook.com/worselder

https://worselder.bandcamp.com