A long day spent at Bute Park’s Tafwyl Welsh music festival had me craving something closer to my heavy preferences when the summer evening turned its beautiful humid head. I had something lined up over the road that would quench my thirst for a more reasonably-priced pint and sate my hunger for a satisfying headbang: an evening of 3 varied doom/sludge acts, what more could I ask for?
Having sadly missed this lineup as part of the Temple Of Doom all-dayer at Moor Beer in Bristol recently, I was glad to be able to catch Lung, Thrakian and Hora bringing the sludge to Cardiff as a follow-up.
Kicking off the evening, Hora deliver a set soaked in fuzz and atmospherics. This is a band that I’ve until now unfortunately not gone out of my way to listen to. Following the gig on the walk home, I couldn’t help but digest their debut Witch Trial Sessions EP.
Hora used their Crowbar-esque elements to pry open the door to my brain and filled it with so many riffs and psychedelic atmospherics that they may as well have left me no longer needing another pint. The crowd felt fully present for every riff, ensnared by the grooves the band was putting across, but before long the final song comes swooping in with a riff that’ll take your head off. If you get a hankering for this brand of sludgy sonic excess, be sure to mosey on down to one of Hora’s gigs.
Thrakian are the band that I am most familiar with going into the evening. I’ve been absorbing their intense, unyielding atmosphere for years now since first sharing the stage with them in 2023, however this show brings with it something quite unique for the band.
Thrakian are the band that I am most familiar with going into the evening. I’ve been absorbing their intense, unyielding atmosphere for years now since first sharing the stage with them in 2023, however this show brings with it something quite unique for the band.
Sadly their lead guitarist Kris has quite a nasty injury which despite his presence helping out on doors and merch means that he will have to step down from performing. This is not to say that the remaining trio suffered however, as they carry through an absolutely crushing set of post-metal rife with intense dynamic changes and an undeniably tough stage presence spearheaded by their vocalist/guitarist Atanas.
Despite only having two songs released at the moment, I am somewhat familiar with their upcoming material after being to a few of their gigs. I am pleasantly surprised to see the band open with through and through banger A Path To Demise followed by 2 songs with a very strong folk influence befitting some of the music going on at the park and the themes of Bulgarian folkore and heritage in their lyrics.
Despite only having two songs released at the moment, I am somewhat familiar with their upcoming material after being to a few of their gigs. I am pleasantly surprised to see the band open with through and through banger A Path To Demise followed by 2 songs with a very strong folk influence befitting some of the music going on at the park and the themes of Bulgarian folkore and heritage in their lyrics.
Closing track Ancient Glory takes the crowd through an absolute maze of musical arrangement, and on top of this incredible composition serves as an absolute showcase for their drummer. This is a band on the rise, and I am excited to see where they go.
Thinking my neck could handle no more, local headliner Lung takes the stage. I was introduced to this behemoth of doom at a Bossk show at The Globe a few years back, and despite having abstained from the devil’s lettuce recently, I am transported straight back to that feeling of being just a liiiiiiittle too stoned during their set.
Thinking my neck could handle no more, local headliner Lung takes the stage. I was introduced to this behemoth of doom at a Bossk show at The Globe a few years back, and despite having abstained from the devil’s lettuce recently, I am transported straight back to that feeling of being just a liiiiiiittle too stoned during their set.
Every song is a study in how to make a ‘simple’ stoner doom riff into a crushing weight of grime and grossness. With the guitar and bass treated much like synths by being pushed through octave fuzz and massive wah pedal sweeps, and enough missiles swing in the drumming to leave Bill Ward proud, I feel that I am treading through the endless dreams of the Weedian.
Whilst Lung’s vocals are comparatively sparse, they certainly don’t feel held back. The space for the instrumentals to show off just how heavy they can get allows the throat-shreddingly disgusting vocal to really make its impact, and I just find myself looking forward every time their mildly unhinged vocalist/bassist approaches the mic.
The night ends with the announcement that they’re going to crank the absolute sh*t out of their amps for closing track Obsidian Bong Monolith. The volume and groove leaves the crowd satisfied and ready to head out into the night ready to brave the inevitably stiff necks the next day.
Overall, this was a feast for the ears. The disregard for volume bought by post, doom and sludge will always strike a chord with me, and I’m glad to see so many people out to partake in this scene locally. If you have the chance to see any of these bands, be sure not to give them a miss. 9/10
Whilst Lung’s vocals are comparatively sparse, they certainly don’t feel held back. The space for the instrumentals to show off just how heavy they can get allows the throat-shreddingly disgusting vocal to really make its impact, and I just find myself looking forward every time their mildly unhinged vocalist/bassist approaches the mic.
The night ends with the announcement that they’re going to crank the absolute sh*t out of their amps for closing track Obsidian Bong Monolith. The volume and groove leaves the crowd satisfied and ready to head out into the night ready to brave the inevitably stiff necks the next day.
Overall, this was a feast for the ears. The disregard for volume bought by post, doom and sludge will always strike a chord with me, and I’m glad to see so many people out to partake in this scene locally. If you have the chance to see any of these bands, be sure not to give them a miss. 9/10
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