There's nothing strange or unprecedented about a band changing its name. Sometimes it is out of necessity, such as when TONI IOMMI decided to change his band's name to a Boris Karloff film to avoid confusion with another band called EARTH. NBA Legend Mookie Blaylock didn't care for a certain band using his name, so they changed it to PEARL JAM. And when THE NEW YARDBIRDS changed names, they got over much better than the proverbial lead balloon which inspired it.

Although it could just be that the original name was a bit nondescript. Perhaps that's what drove a Copenhagen-based duo to be more specific and call themselves RIFT GIANT. The sound didn't change with the name, however, and a Stoner Sludge monster called "Cataclysm" is the band's second full-length album. A fair portion of their style comes from across the Kattegat, heavily recalling the likes of SPIRITUAL BEGGARS and MUSTASCH, especially in the vocals.

Things begin a bit Spaced up on "Into The Rift", which settles into what will be the signature Stoner Sludge Groove they've developed. It's pretty standard material for an opener, but "Hubris" follows that up with a lot more ambition, and it delivers in a big way.

Then comes "Queen Witch", the album's longest at nearly eight minutes, and a song that must simply have a music video waiting in the wings. "Slaves, She Made Us" comes in simultaneously as a march and a dirge, the most dour track yet but with so many hooks to keep it lively. After that, "To Three" takes a long time to wind up and ultimately fails to capitalise on that, making for an unfortunate misfire.

From here, not much more can really be said. "Blocks Out The Sun" picks up where the fourth track left off, but doesn't add to the mix, and likewise, the eponymous track "Rift Giant", despite having its moments, does not stray from the course. The album's own title track serves as the outro, an instrumental overture ending things largely as they were begun.

So, while quite far from being disastrous, "Cataclysm" isn't exactly a miracle, either. Songs like "Hubris" and "Queen Witch" should be picked up by every Metal and Stoner Rock radio/podcast and have a place in the All-2021 Playlist, that much is sure. But then a song like "To Three" can make the listener question how it made the cut. Artistic discretion can be like that, sometimes.

Nevertheless, "Cataclysm" balances out as a worthy Stoner Sludge album, and more importantly, it stands as a solid sophomore release from RIFT GIANT. And even for playing a genre so named, all bands benefit a lot from momentum, and "Cataclysm" creates serious inertia. If they can keep the reins on this thing, album three will have a high ceiling and the talent to break through it.