This is the fifth studio album from Weedeater, and while a little short at just over half an hour, it's a solid album. For someone like me, admittedly inexperienced with all but the most widely known names in the genre such as Down, it epitomizes the reason why this type of metal is called 'stoner metal'.

The tone is set just right so as to stay true to the stoner/sludge sound without falling into the trap of tuning so low with such a fuzzy tone that you cannot actually distinguish any melody. But then, they've been around a while so you wouldn't expect that kind of mistake.

The drums, well ... Let's be clear about one thing: A press release that boasts words like 'some of the hardest hitting drums since Keith Moon' is a very, very bold claim. Too bold perhaps. Or not. I happen to think not and I think this is a sentiment that would be shared by people who know who Keith Moon was and who listen to this album. I don't know the musical demographics of the Weedeater fan base but I'm guessing a fair amount will know why such a claim has to be well deserved before you say it. 'Claw Of The Sloth' is a particularly good example of why this statement is not a wild boast.

In terms of the vocals, it is simply so rare to hear this style put to anything other than the darker variants of metal (death, black, that kind of thing). I presume this has always been the case with Weedeater, though admittedly, I have not heard their other material. That's irrelevant because it's really good to hear things that seem a million miles apart come together to create something that is enjoyable to listen to, even for someone who is not a huge fan of the genre.

There's a wonderful song in the middle called 'Battered & Fried'. Bitter old drunk/stoned guy sitting on a porch with a banjo rocking on a chair. That's the image it creates in my head. No idea what the intention of the band was or the motivation behind it. It's a nice break in between from the entertaining, yet occasionally repetitive nature of the album. The same can be said of 'Bully', which in all but guitar tone sounds more like a thrash metal song. Weedeater have managed to merge other things into this album successfully while not deviating from the roots of the genre - assuming I have an accurate understanding of what those roots are, of course.

If that's not the case, I can say only that I've enjoyed listening to this.