Hailing from Florida, Shroud Eater is bringing new ideas as to how music can be consumed in both sound and how it is released. Over their six year career they have released limited CDs, special singles, and full albums on a variety of formats. The group is currently touring the east coast for their latest EP, Face the Master (Primitive Violence Records).

The first track ‘Face the Master’ is nothing too deep, but is enjoyable. Use of a movie sound clip to start it all off suggest that the EP is a miniature concept album. Harmony of all three members’ voices creates a trance like charm. Shroud Eater definitely knows what it is doing when it comes to playing metal. The vocals sound similar to Tony Foresta of Municipal Waste but with less thrash and more hardcore influence.

‘House of Endings’ doesn’t grab the listener quite as much but is still high quality. There is more variety in the sound of the track with buzzing guitars cutting in at some points and a more extended solo at the end. The only complaint is that the EP does not seem to come to a definitive end with this track; it seems like there is a missing third track.

Overall, the two song EP is enough to get listeners interested especially if they are already sludge metal fans. The sound is tight, professional, and has replay potential. Shroud Eater may sound similar to other sludge metal bands such as Kylesa but are still their own group. They are the future of sludge metal.

9.0/10

MELISSA CAMPBELL