Hailing from Canada, Alienatör is a sludge metal band that confronts tough issues with razor-sharp riffs and memorable hooks. They released their debut album, Pariahs, in 2019, and have just recently followed it up this with Regrets, which is darker, more focused, and more intense.
Through the album, they look at political events, personal relationships and set heavy themes to heavy music. The title track sees the band at its most vulnerable, it's a cathartic song about the passage of time and missed opportunities.
Vocalist/guitarist Brad King lays out some of his motivations behind the single: “One of the more heartfelt and emotional songs I’ve written, dealing with personal regrets and struggles and the passage of time. I like the energy and looser feel of it, musically. Sean’s really standing on his head with some of the bass fills on this one but it’s all tasteful and fits perfectly, elevating the whole song. Simon also fills empty spaces in interesting ways on the drums here.”
The music video for “Regrets” can be seen below:
Regrets is a grim postcard from the depths of the human psyche. Alienatör’s darkest release yet, it is a reaction to years of deep political turmoil, the erosion of truth, as well as personal politics of grief, loss, and struggle. It’s an album that touches on personal and social themes. Flourishes of melody drenched in a caustic sludge, painted in shades of black.
The previous album was written as a two-piece, but since then, bassist Sean Skillen has taken more of a creative role in the process and drummer Simon Paquette was recruited for drums. The band still has some blistering fast punk-influenced tunes but they’re branching out and showing their songwriting depth on this latest recording.
Abrasion, aggression and heartfelt emotion meet driving rhythm and solid riffs throughout the album, which is recommended for fans of Botch, Jesus Lizard and Unsane.
Order on Bandcamp.
Tracklisting:
“Revisionist History”
“Loss Leader”
“Blood Red Blood”
“Regrets”
“The Priest”
“The Less Dead”
“Flat Earth Society”
“Irreconcilable”
“Your Funeral”
“Wounded Birds”
“Dark Matters”
“The Priest” video:
“Blood Red Blood”:
(Photo – Peter David Wragg)
