Sludge pioneers Crowbar have maintained their place as one of the genres heaviest hitters.

This is what you want from Sludge. The lyrics are deep and melancholy and the guitar tones are right down low just where they need to be.

I'd gotten used to seeing founding member Kirk Windstein as a member of Down and, to my fault, forgotten his vocal prowess, both in vocal performance and as a lyricist. He draws on the influence the late Peter Steele had on him on 'Symbolic Suicide'

It is an out and out Sludge album and doesn't pretend to be anything else or try to step away in to other things, but I get more depth to the lyrics. Generally not being a fan of the genre, this has enthralled me.

This album marks 25 years of Crowbar, and it is Kirks sole focus to move ahead with crowbar for the foreseeable future. His 'baby' which he is now free to concentrate on. "I have nothing to stop me from throwing nothing less than 100 percent in to Crowbar", explains Windstein, who left Down last year on completely amicable terms with everyone in order to pursue Crowbar.

Crowbar have succeeded in progressing with what is fundamental to their sound but without sounding aged or dated. I look forward to seeing them live next month at Hellfest. Check out their web page for other European tour dates.