The American Black Lung

This sophomore opus by the American Black Lung blends early hardcore with punk rock’n’roll and garage to create a sludgy mixture of straightforward rock riffs. Amusingly, that sludge is thick and sticks to your ribs but has just enough sheen to feel a bit classier than the gruff influences would have one believe. It’s all delivered with uncompromising passion and aggression that some might label "early Suicidal Tendencies playing modern hardcore.” Thank the vocal patterns reminiscent of Mike Muir’s high-pitched caterwauling. As for the music, the crooning rides overtop of some pretty coarse guitar riffs and Thor-esque drum beats, proving Sudden Departure Of Vultures to be a strong step out of the novice phase for ABL. This is a nice mixture of old meeting new that unites familiarity with freshness.