### Black Tusk: Tend no wounds

#### 09/12/13 || Dinu

Black Tusk from Savannah, Georgia have put out four albums since 2007 and an ep in 2005. With “Tend No Wounds”, their second EP, the band has sketched out a blistering soundscape and it is very impressive. The riffs are groovy almost all the way through and although they tend to loosen up at bits slowing down the tempo, they are mostly in their element.

“A Cold Embrace” starts off strongly with heavy riffage and aggressive vocals. The song maintains a steady groove and builds up to a crescendo and dissipates just as “Enemy of Reason” takes off. The second track improvises on the atmosphere and has some really good vocals to add to the theatrics. “The Weak and The Wise” is where the drumming picks up and the dissonant riffs add to its quiet menace. “Internal/Eternal” is fast paced and has some really good grooves and the riffs remind one of early Kylesa at times. Folksy, aggressive and relentless, it has some lively songwriting to go along with the tight drumming. “Truth Untold” acknowledges the punk influences on Black Tusk with drummer Jamie May dominating all the way through. The riffs on this one are pretty loose and is slightly disappointing to listen to given the consistent brilliance of its precursors. Jonathan Athon’s low-octave vocals add a lot of intensity to album closer “In Days of Woe”. With tight drumming, groovy riffs and great lyrics (“the arrival of times unworthy behold the future, in days of woe shadows shall rise”) the album closes on a high.

Like many of the southeastern sludge metal bands, Black Tusk conjure an earthy, loud atmosphere. The riffs build on the atmosphere and groove at the right moments. The band is capable of bringing out some really good riffs and through most of “Tend No Wounds”, they create a powerful, aggressive atmosphere that is very impressive.

Black Tusk are in their element with this EP and although at times its tough to differentiate them from their contemporaries like Mastodon they have come a long way from their last album “Taste the Sin”.

Hardcore sludge fans and those who like some groove in their heavy metal will definitely find this EP worth listening to. Its catchy, loud, and makes an exuberant racket all the way to its dregs. Definitely worth a grab.

- Information
- Released: July 2013
- Label: Relapse Records
- Website: www.blacktuskterror.com
- Band
- Jonathan Athon: vocals, bass
- Andrew Fidler: bass
- Jamie May: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. A Cold Embrace
- 02. Enemy of Reason
- 03. The Weak and The Wise
- 04.Internal/Eternal
- 05. Truth Untold
- 06. In Days of Woe