Sleep - Vol. I (2014)

Volume One: SLEEP's first studio album, with a darker sound and stronger influence of doom metal than their later work.

Fans of their later stoner metal albums may not recognize this focus on composition. 46 minutes long, going from calm to furious. The band's early sound was foreshadowed by the opening chants, but the music became harsh and doom-laden. While the riffs sometimes resembled Black Sabbath , SLEEP's sound also had characteristics of Eyehategod sludge , with elements of both styles present.

Breaks feature bass-led grooves, while guitar and drums lead into complex interludes and vocals settle into narrative prose. The pace is well maintained, with moments of pastiche mixing with metal. Duels of guitar create counterpoint. The drumming is often as simple as sludge metal, but there are also excellent workouts, including some interesting cymbal action.

The cover image is from Salvador Dalí's "Soft Self-Portrait with Fried Bacon" Originally released in 1991.

GENRE:
Doom Metal / Sludge
LABEL:
Tupelo (Reissue 2014)