Eyehategod - A History of Nomadic Behavior (Album Review)

Eyehategod - A History of Nomadic Behaviour

Release date: 12/3/2021

Label: Century Media Records

Written by: P.S.

Eyehategod are back with their new album, A History of Nomadic Behavior, the band's sixth studio album. This album comes after they last put out an album in 2014 and have been touring a lot over the last years, as well as dealing with illness and personal affairs. Their own struggles is what seems to always have been the fueling motivator, especially as much of their lyrics talk about drugs, crime and poverty, something which the members all have experience with since they started in New Orleans in 1988. As one of the first and most original sludge metal bands, vocalist Mike Williams, guitarist Jimmy Bower and original drummer Joey LaCaze (R.I.P) drew influence from bands like the Melvins, Black flag and Black Sabbath, as well as southern blues bands.

Eyehategod

A History of Nomadic Behavior starts off with a very slapstick kind of song called Built Beneath the Lies. It has a classic punk vibe and it is a song that sticks it to the man and talks about the injustice that goes on in America. The feedback hits and we are on to the next song on the album called The Outer Banks, which is yet another comment on some of the wealth disparity going on in America today, with banks and funds having more power and influence over those less fortunate. The theme of social injustice runs deep through this album, as it has always been the case for Eyehategod, a reason why they appeal to many, not only in the metal community but also among the punk and hardcore communities. The next couple of songs continues with this theme. The listener is in for lots of slow catchy riffs with a heavy southern blues influence. and just about the middle way through the album we hit the best part/songs of the album. High Risk Trigger has an insanely cool riff that really carries the song and reminds me of the song Nobody Told Me from their self titled release from 2014. It's got that southern sound to it that only this band can create, and sticks in your head like a lot of Eyehategod’s riffs have a tendency to do. Another song I want to highlight is Anemic Robotic which strikes a brilliant balance between Mike Williams’s storytelling in the song and the awesome sludge metal riff in the background, again like only this band can do.


In conclusion this album is full of good classic Eyehategod songs and if you are a fan of this band you will like this album. The only thing that is missing is the more “swampy” sound that the band is known for, and the mix where I feel like the vocals are too high throughout the whole album.

 

I give this album

Out of 6

Favorite song: Anemic Robotic

Tracklist:

1. Built Beneath the Lies

2. The Outer Banks  

3. Fake What's Yours

4. Three Black Eyes  

5. Current Situation

6. High Risk Trigger

7. Anemic Robotic

8. The Day Felt Wrong

9. The Trial of Johnny Cancer

10. Smoker's Piece  

11. Circle of Nerves  

12. Every Thing, Every Day

Links: Eyehategod Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEyeHateGod