Quality Sludge is hard to find these days if you’re getting tired of the big names, and so it’s a pleasant surprise to turn on Behold! The Monolith’s debut EP and hear something that references several bands – High On Fire and Mastodon the main ones I can pick out – without ever stooping to actually stealing from them. Yes, a new Sludge band that has their own sound – I’m as shocked as you are, but there it is. Mixing Bluesy catchiness and Celtic Frostian thrashings is something that many have tried but few succeed at, but here Land Of The Midnight Sun achieves that and more, bassist Kevin’s vocals a more old-school Death Metal take on Tom G. Warrior’s morbid grunt. What’s especially impressive is how naturally the songs flow from section to section, despite the six minutes length never getting dull or struggling, keeping that classic Doom sound at the foundation.

The EP just gets better from then on. Witch Hunt Supreme opens with a tech-prog workout, Mastodon’s Blood Mountain standing and nodding approval as the band noodle away before switching to a wonderfully slow churn, catchiness returning later with a Cathedral-esque sample and riffs. Volcanus Eruptus, meanwhile, finishes the EP off in style with some awesome classic vinum Sabbathi, more hints of melodic Mastodon worship slotting in perfectly.

There is literally nothing I can say in criticism of this release. The band are due in the studio soon to record a full-length, and from the looks of things it should be a killer album. Plus, they have t-shirts available for sale depicting warrior monkeys in helmets. Need I say any more? Keep an eye out for this band, for great things are sure to come.