"Petsuchos" is the debut EP from Scottish "crocodilian doom" metal band, CULT OF SOBEK. The EP was released on July 22, 2023, on Trepanation Recordings. They have a sludge vibe mixed in with their doom metal. I'm not sure what their sound has to do with crocodiles outside of their lyrics or what separates them from other sludge bands. The magic is lost on me. Let's dive in. The first track, "Petsuchos," begins with some fuzzy guitar droning then the lead guitar comes in playing high notes in contrast to the low, down-tuned sound that Sludge is known for. For me, this doesn't work. When I listen to sludge metal I want to hear down-tuned riffs and grimy vocals. It needs to sound like something dredged up from a swamp. This track has some nice riffs in that vein, usually played by rhythm guitar. The vocals are sparse, with vamps that overstay their welcome. One thing I don't want in my sludge is high-pitched black metal tremolos. The lead guitar parts kind of spoil the song for me.

The final track, "Maneater," is most akin to the sludge metal that I prefer. That is until the rhythm guitar riffs get so filthy that the rhythm of the track is all but lost, leaving the drummer to fend for himself. The lead guitar parts also sound like they should be in a more fitting song. The best part of this EP is McCardle's vocals. He switches between high and low growls well, but I wouldn't consider that a display of range. There is no in-between, just filthy low growls and startling barks. This track didn't do it for me either. Overall, this EP is a disappointing effort, to say the least. There are just too many elements working against each other for it to be worth more than a passing nod.Purchase Link:

https://cultofsobek.bandcamp.com/album/petsuchos