Straight out the gate, I was blown away by the new Trudger record. The quartet from Barnsley return with the complete package in Void Quest, a hard-hitting sludge record with songs that get to the point straight away, mixing and mastery that really encapsulates their sound, and artwork that looks brilliant and stands out in today’s genAI world. Yet pigeonholing them to simply sludge would be an utter disservice to the emphatic sound presented in Void Quest.
Flirting and skirting around the fringes of progressive metal, post-metal, crust, and death metal, Trudger have kept their original identity while still managing to deliver a record that feels very current. And that identity, for the most part, feels largely unique in a sea of psychedelia-influenced metal. The closest band you’ll find to these lads is DVNE, which isn’t altogether surprising when you hear that Jack Kavanagh also played bass/guitar for them on the Etemen Ænka record and tour cycle. However, the veterans of sludge will easily pick up the early Mastodon influences, whilst I’d also point to more modern likeness to Pijn and Conjurer, too.
“Merciless Sabre” wastes no time opening the album. Straight from the off, you’re assaulted by all the instruments, followed quickly by the powerful vocals of frontman Chris. A coalescing furore of sounds collapsing in on each other, like being on the edge of a black hole, is how I like to introduce their sound to peers; they do it with aplomb, with riffs and grooves perfectly flowing together and against one another without sounding messy. It’s a stonking opening track and is a perfect reintroduction to their unique sound.
“Occupied Frequency” has one of the most gargantuan riffs of the year in the midst of its short two-and-a-half-minute runtime. I am constantly in awe of the sudden unity of the instruments, rather than the maelstrom you’ve experienced thus far, plus the stunning mix, helping to elevate the experience. I was begging for them to bring it back again one more time at the end of the song, but maybe that’s what makes it so fucking good?!
As you move through the album, despite the consistent onslaught of sound, you’ll find that each track has its own nuance, its own roots in one genre or another, making for quality repeat listens. Some tracks like “God Rest” feel like the ultra-gritty sludge of LO! thanks to the emphatic climaxes and mental drumming, whereas tracks like “Battle Hardened” are more like the tales woven by bands like DVNE and Mastodon.
The mix and master of this record really helps to elevate the experience on Void Quest, with Trudger picking a stellar team to handle the record. Joe Clayton from Pijn (which I hadn’t realised when making the comparison earlier) recorded and mixed the album at his studio in Manchester (No Studio), whilst Brad Boatwright of Audiosiege in Oregon handled the master. The sound is colossal across all speakers and headphones I’ve tried, with a lot of room for each instrument to shine. The drum work in particular gets to breathe a lot, and for good reason. It is consistently frenetic, somehow at times more intense than the riffs cascading around them. The vocals also fit cleanly within the mix, not overly present, which really helps the atmosphere of the record.
The album itself sits at just over half an hour, which I feel is perfect for their sound. The record builds up in the eighth track, leading into the finale perfectly. “Bile Elixir” wraps up the album with a huge blackened finish that matches the structure of the album, yet also teases what more is to come. From the looks of their socials, Trudger are ready to deliver more content soon. Given their closeness to the UK metal scene, I’m hoping to see them play this live very soon. It’ll also be great to hear some of the tracks from Dormiveglia, their first LP, as and when I do catch them. Do yourselves a favour, though, and give the record a good few spins; you will not be disappointed in this excellent return from Trudger.
