Instrumental metal outfit Chowder are as chunky and satisfying as their name lets on. Recorded in Baltimore in Summer 2007, their self-titled EP has the lo-fi quality of a demo, but this Baltimore trio jams the five-track debut full of hypnotic synths, doom-and-gloom guitar dredging (or, as we say on the Eastern Shore, "drudgin'") the depths of the sonic sea for the heavy, forceful blasts of "Night of Time" and the slooooooow but killer "Saturated". Anchored by bass ticking on the lowest of the low end of the register and tech drumming, some of Chowder's songs push about two minutes beyond the typical length of modern metal tracks but never fail to keep your attention. When "Tenacity" gets really down into its groove at about the 3:00 mark you'll find the finest part of this teaser release.

Crafted from the minds of Josh Hart (former Revelation and Unorthodox), Chad Rush, and Doug Williams (former Next Step Up), Chowder claim inspiration and influence from doom, post rock, and hardcore. These core influences all make their appearance on Chowder, however this triptych of heaviness goes off on its own bent, destined for some bizarre calculus on future releases.

Bland Hand Records has made the EP available for free download since both the initial and second pressing have sold out.  Definitely recommended for those who dig the prog sound.

Tags: Album Reviews, Baltimore, Chowder, metal, MP3