Ice Dragon

As far as downright ass-dirty stoner metal goes, Ice Dragon are amongst the best. Their latest EP, The Soul's Midnight, sounds absolutely disgusting, and I mean that as a compliment. The tastefully low-quality production actually enhances the low, grumbling, psychedelic ramblings, creating an air of confused haziness about the album that I suspect could only be reproduced by copious amounts of substance abuse.

Ice Dragon certainly cover all their musical bases, playing a diverse spattering of styles in tempos varying from "phlegmatic" to "torpid". The songs themselves range from cacophonous, loud grunginess on "Understanding Ouroboros", to mechanical, thoughtful abrasions on "The Soul's Midnight", to epic-length, delicate reflections on "Winterwind", and soft, amibent droning on "Stellar Door". Nothing is left out, and the EP is scarcely loner than twenty minutes.

In short, this is an album so happily wallowing in its own filth that it's hard not to get swept up in it all and enjoy yourself. Any fans of stoner metal should hear this band--heck, everyone should, given that it (along with most of their discography) is free to download from Ice Dragon's Bandcamp. Rock on.

Recommended if you like: Boris, Sleep, Om

6.5 / 10 — Sarah