DIAZEPAM — Chemical Justice (review)

DIAZEPAM — Chemical Justice album cover Album · 2015 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
DIAZEPAM is a benzodiazepine derivative with anti-anxiety, sedative, hypnotic and anticonvulsant properties. Diazepam potentiates the inhibitory activities of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) by binding to the GABA receptor, located in the limbic system and the hypothalamus. This increases the frequency of chloride channel opening, allowing the flow of chloride ions into the neuron and ultimately leading to membrane hyperpolarization and a decrease in neuronal excitability.

Oh! And DIAZEPAM is a doomy sludge metal band that formed in 2011 from Lewiston, Idaho as well! This band has so far released a couple demos, one split and this sole representation in its discography titled CHEMICAL JUSTICE and since DIAZEPAM split up in 2016, it’s unlikely we will ever see a sophomore release from this stoner sludge metal band that consisted of Drew (vocals), Matt (guitar), John (guitar) and Mike (drums). DIAZEPAM plays a mixture of sludge and doom metal that is extremely dark and heavily distorted and there are more than a few nudges to classic metal acts like Black Sabbath.

This is actually a pretty decent album although it’s a bit too obvious where its influences lie. On the compositional front we can clearly hear aspects from classic Black Sabbath as the chord progressions can easily be traced to that band’s first six album run but as far as the tones and timbres go, this band is clearly in the sludge metal camp with bands like Eyehategod, Godflesh and Acid Bath coming to mind but what makes this band even more exotic is that the vocals of Drew sound more like black metal rasps than tortured sludge metal which in the end gives this band a somewhat unique sound. The tracks are also fairly melodic which may turn some off but in the end works quite well for the plodding procession of the otherwise bleak musical expressions.

CHEMICAL JUSTICE features six tracks that add up to almost 33 minutes of playing time which is perfect actually. Perhaps a little too much on the Black Sabbath side of the equation which are quite obvious such as on “Brow Beater” which features some classic “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” riffs but the sludgy distortion and the black metal vocals keep this somewhat just a few steps away of total copycat-ism of any particular band. Overall this is an enjoyable listen despite its over-reliance on classic artists of yore. First albums can often feature hero worshipping tendencies and that is certainly the case here but it’s too bad that this band didn’t continue in order to develop a more distinct sound a few steps away from its influences but taken as is, this is still an excellent listen on the lower registers of excellence that is.
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