ninehertz

Rwake are one of the true originals of sludge and doom. Back when I'd not really ventured into doom - never mind sludge - from my core stoner rock fanhood in my university days, I came across their Hell is a Door to the Sun masterpiece, and it was this - not the more common names of Eyehategod, Iron Monkey, Grief or even Electric Wizard - that led me into the darker avenues. It's still one of my most cherished albums ever - they were (and remain) a true enigma, those early works spoke of teenage frustration as outcasts growing up in Arkansas, sounding both relatable but also untouchably arcane and mystical.

That was 23 years ago. Their last album, Rest, came out in 2011. As exciting as their return is, can it stand up to their legacy? The title track, pre-released ahead of the album, proves they still have the same magic. It is wonderous, the first few seconds send a shiver down my spine, a sound that can only be, distinctively Rwake. There are the venomous voices amid rumbling thunder, followed by the breaks into stoner rock that feel somehow poisoned; latter into spoken word story telling mode, a truth-telling, preaching tirade of indignation and wizardry. The ending mellows and takes its time too, more evidence of Rwake constructing songs how they flow, paying no heed to convention.

The vocals, as has always been the way, shriek through the psychedelic mirk like no other. There are common spoken word passages, ominous narratives told. Their music, when you strip out the strange and harsh vocal combinations, is often surprisingly minimal or light in nature. What they're not given credit for is the sense of ethereal they consistently conjure, perhaps because it comes shrouded in such harsh sounds, mystical and of the earth - folklore from the sodden vegetation of the forest floor perhaps.

Despite this, the unified output of all elements can feel like the densest thing you've ever heard. The base song structures are never from the rulebook, Rwake their own architects. Tracks trail off in unexpected directions, but when you lock in, all those strange layers open revealing Rwake's absolute uniqueness in the sludge realm. The Return Of Magik is a stunning album that displays every little kink and approach that have always made them special, affirmation that this is truly one of the genre's greats.