Cattlepress


Cattlepress / Sloth Split (7") 1997 None
This split was pressed in 1997, but strangely enough it is still easilly available at the point which this review was written (early september 2005). Perhaps that should be "miraculously", as just about all of the other Sloth's splits sold out in less than a year. Sometimes it doesn't take more than a few weeks before all copies are gone. So how come this one is still available in shops? At least I know that I've heard worse from both bands, so that can't be the reason.

Cattlepress's side contains a track which is not typical for their style. They usually produce a mixture of sludge and noisecore in the vein of Cult Of Luna. This time they remind me of Funereal Luxuria, which is a funeral doom band. Now, this song is definitely core, but it still has the same gramophone-like sound. You could also compare it to playing Pelican's music with no bass and sharp edges on all the high pitched sounds.

On the cover it says that this track is the first track in a series called "Directions in improvisation by CATTLE PRESS". So I guess the interesting things about the track is due to the fact that it's improvised. However, since I cannot find any clues to whether any of the other three parts were ever released, and hence haven't heard them, I can't really tell for sure. I guess all I know is that my ears certainly don't object to the track.

Sloth has four songs on their side, the first two of them are sown into each other, forming one track. Neither is there any silence between the tracks so that they seem to float over into each other, making it hard to tell where one ends and another begins. Anyways, unlike Cattlepress they play a style which is very familiar to them. Slightly weirded out sludgecore with many doom elements and silly lyrics.

Their second track, 'Kirk's Lament', contains a new view on Cliff Burton's death. (Metallica's former bassist who died in 1986 in a bus crash, while on tour in Sweden). Amongst other things the song hints towards Kirk Hammet (the guitarist) being in love with Cliff. I'm sure most of Metallica's diehard fans have noticed Kirk's feminine sides, but I'm also sure that they won't see the humor in this track.

The split ends with a love song apparently sung (very sourly) over telephone. I guess you'd need to be a somewhat special person to enjoy this split. But everyone who has enjoyed Sloth's humor earlier, will definitely like this too. And since they're still readily available for a low price, you should consider grabbing a copy.
Album Cover

Cattlepress:
1. So That Threads Remain Of What Will Be First Movement:Deeper Than The Sea Of Ruin
Sloth:
2. Another Sh*t Day/Thirsty For Drunkeness
3. Kirk's Lament
4. A Serenade

Approx. 11 minutes
Reviewed by: Arnstein H. Pettersen