Irish cosmic sludge slingers, SLOMATICS, are at it again. And that's a good thing. On September 8, 2023 they'll release their seventh full-length studio album, "Strontium Fields," on Black Bow Records. I love several things about SLOMATICS. One is the literalness of their name. Perfect name for their bpm commitment. Second, SLOMATICS are to Doom Metal what Liu Cixin is to science fiction. Every album they release forces me to think about physics and math . . . but through a William Burroughs filter. Third, of course, is they are consistently good. "Strontium Fields" continues the band's two-decade legacy of producing thoughtful, well-executed Cosmic Sludge.

Part of the magic of SLOMATICS comes from their consistent lineup and the musical symbiosis that inevitably takes deeper and deeper root with every album. This comes across in the fluid performances as well as the evolved, engrossing compositions. Marty's (drums, vocals!) clean and unassuming vocal style also helps to place the musicianship of the band in the foreground. Which is to say, mood and narrative are naturally progressed through arrangements as opposed to pedantic lyrics or a centerstage frontman.

So, the basics: eight tracks, 36 minutes and, wait for it, 36 seconds. 36:36. Any significance? Probably. And was it deliberate? Probably. What does it all mean? Who knows. Not going there. Overall theme? Okay, I will go there, but only briefly. According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, whose website I had to consult to write this fricken review (because, again, that's one of the superpowers of SLOMATICS) strontium is highly present in nuclear fallout. It is a soft, silvery metal that burns in air and reacts in water. In cool sci-fi scenarios it generates electricity for space vehicles, remote weather stations, and navigation buoys. In more mundane instances, it is used to give brilliant reds in fireworks and is used in glow-in-the-dark paints. What does that all add up to? I'm guessing, 36:36. You're welcome.

Best tracks of the album. Well, if you're looking for brutal metal assaults, look elsewhere. If you're in the mood for folksy, acoustic numbers, nope. If you're searching for down-tuned, slow tempo tracks that have all the sustain you'd expect from frictionless space-score. Every track on this album meets those criteria.

My personal favorites are "I, Neanderthal." I love the idea of a self-aware lesser species that is so close to humanoid. Forget wokeness, where do you stand on species elitism? Next on my fave list is "Like a Kind of Minotaur." It has a haunting, stalker vibe. Also reminds me of "Piranesi" by Susanna Clarke-think alternate dimension labyrinth with a degree of murder, madness, and the occult. Not saying that is what the band was going for, just saying that is what it conjures for me and that I totally dig it. I also really like "Zodiac Arts Lab." Easily the most mellow number on the album, but still evocative and moving.

In total, this is another solid album from the Belfast trio. In my estimation a step-up from their previous album, "Canyons" which was pretty damned good itself. Arguably, Sludge Metal is an acquired taste, though I am sure many arrive at it due to some natural magnetic draw. For them SLOMATICS are a lodestone, and "Strontium Fields" is yet another hefty artifact. Well recommended, this one.