Filthy Music Review - 'Coltsblood: Beyond the Lake of Madness'

Coltsblood – Beyond the Lake of Madness 12”

Ulthar Records

Review by Jude Felton

The second vinyl release from Ulthar Records, following Ninkharsag’s terrific 7”, is to be this truly monstrous 12” from Coltsblood. Originally released on cassette, which has now sold out, this 2 track beast has been fully re-mastered and committed to vinyl, and it’s ready to rip out your very soul.

Clocking in at just under the half hour mark, the two tracks that make up this single, Abyss of Aching Insanity and Beneath Black Skies, are lo-fi sludge-ridden doom of the highest caliber. Seriously, listening to them is akin to being tied to railroad tracks as a train makes its way towards you at about 2 mph. Foreboding, tortured, oppressive, I could go on, but I think you might get the picture; it’s bleak as hell.

Considering both tracks are just over 14 minutes, you might be forgiven for thinking that they could be bordering on the self-indulgent, however this is far from the truth. The two tunes here would not work in a 4 or 5 minute format; you need the time to let them wash over you and slowly drown you in their sheer weight.

The vocals are few and far between, but when called for, John delivers an anguished and almost tortured sermon. These sparse outbursts perfectly accompany that dirty as fuck bass, also played by John, and the caustic guitar from Jem. Both of these stringed weapons sit nicely on top of the almost tribal and monolithic drumming, which comes courtesy of Steve.

Summer is on its way out, and I see no better way to welcome in the 6 months of winter that we’ll no doubt get here in Pennsylvania, than by listening to this quite wonderful single. As with Ninkharsag’s 7” though, you’ll want to get in quick as there’ll only be 300 copies of this beast, unless you want to get your copy digitally. All the links you need, you’ll find below, so hop to it and prepare yourself for real misery.

Track list:

1. Abyss of Aching Insanity

2. Beneath Black Skies

Beyond the Lake of Madness is released on vinyl by Ulthar Records in October.

Ulthar Records Pre-order - http://ultharrecords.bigcartel.com/product/coltsblood-beyond-the-lake-of-madness

Coltsblood Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Coltsblood

Coltsblood Bandcamp - http://coltsblood.bandcamp.com/