Described as a sludge band from Switzerland, it was easy to say that this reviewer was unsure what to expect from The Crotals third album, “Conjure”, which came out in November 2023. It was fair to say “Prelude” piques your curiosity with an introduction that would make most doom metal bands proud, followed by a proper face smacker in “Crater” which had all the feels that would make any early Paradise Lost or In Flames fan happy. Very moody with a mix of deep growls depicting pain but there is clean singing at various points to bring this first song together. “Cuts” is a different beast, the vocals could reflect something that wouldn’t look out of place on a Placebo album or for those of a certain age, CycleFly! “TicTic” drops back into the same groove as “Crater”, moody, doomy and the vocals are excellent as they drag you in with a smile on your face as it melts away. It is nearly impossible not to headbang very slowly with the progression of this tune.

The pace slows once again with “Silver Lakes” with a lovely distorted guitar work which hooks you in but what you don’t expect is the Mexican stand-off style trumpet tune roughly one minute in. “Impetus” brings back the lighter vocals from Danek, formerly of Unfold, which makes you want to run around in a mosh pit even on your own! A very straightforward, uncompromising sludge rock tune. Up next was “Taenia”, another banger from the cut of Crater coming in at over 6 minutes but with more brass and experimental cuts to give the song depth. If you listen hard enough, I am sure there was some keyboard work that sounded like Yes - why not?

“La Boue” takes down another route with some fine guitar work, but comes back to hard-hitting sludge with vocals that will need to be played loud enough for your neighbours to enjoy. “Have you ever met a Black Cat”, the first line to “Black Cat” changes the ‘normal’ you have become accustomed to from the other tracks on this album but continues the pace of vocal melodies that are clear to understand but make the point needed by the band.

The penultimate song is “Ecorce”, a three minute, high-speed song which maintains The Crotals experimental sludge theme of this doom, sludge beast of an album. The latter tunes remind me of Insommnium-esque, no-compromise attitude. The last song is “Trauma”, which tails off the album well, slower paced but solid musicianship and vocals.

Overall, I have enjoyed this album with The Crotals appealing to those established fans of the doom and sludge genre whilst trying to do something different with the trumpets, which I loved.

Pete Jones