Sky Pig - It Thrives in Darkness

 

 

Sky Pig - It Thrives in Darkness
Forbidden Place Records - October 2022
Sludge, Doom, Psych
Rated: *****

"It Thrives in Darkness" is the second full-length and third release for Sacramento sludgers Sky Pig, and the case they continue to make for themselves as one of the top sludge acts around is pretty much inarguable. Where 2020's "Hell is inside you" was evil, thunderously heavy, and sickeningly psychedelic, "It Thrives in Darkness" consistently one-ups it. The drums are booming, the walls of guitar and bass tone are on the Richter scale, and the vocals are gut-wrenching. It's not all big and burly though, as singer and guitarist Rob Sneddon mixes things up with some clean vocals that are truly the icing on Sky Pig's rancid cake. Cavernous and haunting, not unlike his usual scorching delivery in a way, but the passages of clean singing are subdued and warped as to augment each song's atmosphere perfectly. In "Motionless", the buildup towards colossal shouts of the sky being "just a big black hole" becomes all the more daunting, and the marching drive of "Sinning Time" is given an extra layer of urgency and inevitability. The lyrics themselves are fittingly bleak and crushing as well, weaving tales of Lovecraftian darkness and monstrosities befitting of the excellent album art. This comes as no surprise, however, as Sky Pig have proven themselves masters of atmosphere. Swirling, unsettling psychedelic passages often squirm into the ears before the next mountain of crushing noise topples over. Case in point the epic seven minutes-plus "In Light of your Death", which uses sonic space to as much effect as claustrophobic walls of sound. Don't let that leave you unprepared for the song's finale, however, though you'll likely get steamrolled just the same. The finale and title track finishes off the album appropriately, offering spine-tingling moments of calm before ripping your head off with gargantuan riffs, low end, and drums. Sky Pig are here for nothing less than total aural destruction, and we should thank the Great Old Ones for that.

(Written by Shastabeast aka Kyle SB)

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