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Breakdown......

BLEEKER | NYC | 04/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got his CD when it first released back in 93. I remember saying to myself.... holy $H*! this is genious! Crowbar essencially took the breakdowns found in NYC hardcore music, wound them down to 2 miles an hour and turned them into full fledged songs!



I honestly didnt keep up with Crowbar after thier 2nd release. I never realized they released so many CDs. I've heard a few of them but quite frankly their first 2 CDs still stand out as their best efforts."

A straight up, tell-it-like-it-is pounding doom sludge class

the eclectic extrovert | PA USA | 07/12/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is crazy in some ways, but at one time this album was in my top 20 of all time. It could easily be called "Odes to the Unappreciated," in terms of lyrical content and mood. ("ALL I had I Gave," "Self-Inflicted," etc.)



Now, doom metal has many sub-genres, and these guys fit the sludge-rock, straight doom label. This can in no way be mistaken with goth-tinged doom, or deathdoom, or whatever. But, if you like something that simply pummels you, makes you look at yourself in the mirror and admit that you don't like a great deal of what you see, while still making it clear that you won't accept trash from anyone else, this is just what the doctor ordered. I mean, how can you go wrong with titles like "Existence is Punishment," and "Holding Nothing" (the title chorus, BTW, drawn out in sort of a mournful chant, overlayed with barking, punk-tinged verses)? And "I Have Failed" is one of the most heart-honest, tortured songs I've ever heard. Now that I think of it, reading these titles alone makes you feel like you've leafed through Kafka cliffnotes.



Without question that SPIRIT, if not musical style, of emotionally depleted Delta blues rings through (which they are from the swamplands of "Nawlins," LA.), minus the songs about being dumped by lovers (though these songs might work well in those cases as well). It hits the same vein as Vitus, but with less wah-wah overkill, and minus the twinge of Ozzy vocals. The vocals are delivered in the punk-or-thrash style, but pained, strained, and slowed down--angry and harsh, yet not shouting. It may be the vocals, exhortated almost more than sung, that add to the feeling of blues, though this is throbbing, pounding, tortured swamp rock metal all the way.



In general, if you can't decide whether to 1) put down your whiskey, leave the bar, and go home with a newfound conviction to clean up your act and "get your head on straight," or to 2) order another (minus the "rocks"), blame the world for your troubles, and start a brawl to relieve the pain, Crowbar has been there too, bro,' and they're more than willing to take you with them."

GREATEST BAND EVER

Bob Moreault | vardun | 03/14/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I JUST GOT MY 5TH COPIE OF THIS ALBUM (1ST WAS A TAPED CASSETTE - LOST ONE

OR TWO - BROKE AN OTHER COPIE) SAW THEN IN 93 WITH PANTERA AND THEY WHER

THE BEST.KIRK IS A GREAT SONG WRITHER, GREG ON DRUMS COMES UP WITH AWSOME

PARTS, AND TOD STRANGE IS FAT AND SLOW..... EXCATLY LIKE THIS BAND.THANK YOU NEW ORLEANS FOR ALL THESE GREAT BANDS.RECOMMANDE ALL CROWBAR CD`S AND

THE DVD KIKS ASS"