BLACK TUSK — Set The Dial (review)

BLACK TUSK — Set The Dial album cover Album · 2011 · Sludge Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
J-Man
A little over a year after Taste the Sin, and Georgian metal act Black Tusk have already returned with Set the Dial. On their third full-length album, the band delivers hardcore-influenced sludge metal just like on their previous outings. This is a highly energetic, aggressive, and non-stop display of heavy riffs and raw production just how any sludge fan likes it. Black Tusk may not have been the most original band around when their debut was released, and the fact that they're still sticking to their guns may lose the interest of more forward-thinking metalheads; still, the quality is high enough to satisfy the band's loyal fanbase for sure. Even though I wish there was a bit more originality on Set the Dial, there's no doubt that this is yet another quality effort from Black Tusk.

The music on Set the Dial is pretty similar to what we heard on previous Black Tusk efforts. This is very aggressive, fast-paced, and punk-tinged sludge metal with a heavy emphasis on filthy guitar tones, buzzing basslines, and raw shouted vocals. In that regard, not much (if anything at all) has changed since their 2008 debut album, Passage Through Purgatory. I could've hoped for something a little bit more unique and adventurous this time around, but Set the Dial definitely delivers its style pretty well. Though not every song is particularly memorable, there are plenty of great riffs throughout the album and it's ultimately a pretty fun listen. At only 34 minutes, it's a fairly short-lived one too.

For some reason I found myself enjoying Set the Dial a bit less than Passage Through Purgatory. Maybe it's because I expected a bit more innovation this time around or maybe it's because this is a slightly weaker effort - whatever the case, I feel like this album is just a tad less essential than Black Tusk's earlier offerings. Still, the quality is pretty good and fans of Black Tusk will certainly want to hear this. 3 stars seems pretty fair here.
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