The West Coast has been turning out some good metal bands in recent years, and the two areas that seem to make up most of the production reside in Portland, OR and the Bay Area of California.  One of the bands that has benefitted from the recent trend is sludge/doom metal band Noothgrush.  Originally formed in 1994, the band had released quite a few split EPs prior to breaking up in 2001.  It has only been recently that Noothgrush was resurrected, and with two full lengths to their name since reforming, Noothgrush is finally getting some of the recognition it deserves.

Recently, a live album from Noothgrush was released in Live for Nothing, and is actually recordings from two live radio shows: in 1996 with KZSU and in 1999 with KFJC.   Given Noothgrush’s style and the time in which the live sessions were recorded, the album is surprisingly good in terms of production and mixing values compared to some live albums recorded on a larger budget.  That doesn’t necessarily mean the overall music is cleaned up to mainstream standards, but rather, all of the lo-fi sound that Noothgrush churns out comes through as clear as sludge metal can (no pun intended).  The vocals are what you would expect, but the drumming is more evident thanks to the mixing on the album.  At times, it seems that the drumming threatens to overtake the guitars, which given the general role in sludge/doom metal, is a task unto itself.  Overall, the music is actually above average for bands similar in style, which is evident in the band’s ability to create atmosphere on songs such as “Erode the Person.”  Outside of the introduction to “Sith,” as well as the band members talking after certain songs, it’s hard to tell that the album is actually two live recordings, which is good in the sense that it shows the potential of Noothgrush’s ability to translate studio recordings into a live setting.  However, the music style is obviously not for everyone, so if you didn’t like sludge/doom metal before listening to Live for Nothing, then your opinion isn’t likely to change.

Noothgrush is what you would expect from a sludge/doom metal band.  Where they truly stand out, besides song titles such as “Derrell’s Porno Song” and “Made Uncomfortable by Others Pain,” is their ability to make the most out of what is given to them.  If you’re looking for a good introduction to sludge/doom metal, then Noothgrush is a good band to start, and Live for Nothing is a good album to get into them.

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*Comments:

1.  Sith
2.  Gage
3.  Jundland Wastes
4.  Evazan
5.  Erode the Person
6.  Derrell’s Porno Song
7.  Dianoga
8.  Procreation of the Wicked
9.  Oil Removed
10.  Made Uncomfortable
        by Others Pain
11.  Flee from Hunger and Disease
12.  Starvation
13.  Useless
14.  A People Defeated
15.  Derrell’s Porno Song
16.  Stagnance
17.  Hatred for the Species
18.  Friends of Mine

Total playing time:  79:51

Release Date: September 27, 2011
Label: Southern Lord Recordings

Noothgrush - Live for Nothing

Reviewer: Peter

February 13, 2012