This is a list of bands that play sludge metal, or sludge, a genre of extreme music that originated through combining elements of doom metal and hardcore punk.
Band | Formed | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
16 [1] | 1992 | United States | |
Acid Bath [2] | 1991 | United States | |
Agrimonia [3] | 2005 | Sweden | Also classed as crust punk and post-metal. [3] |
Alice in Chains [4] [5] | 1987 | United States | Also classed as grunge, [6] alternative metal, [7] alternative rock, [8] and doom metal. [9] |
Amenra [10] | 1999 | Belgium | Also classed as post-metal. |
Baroness [11] | 2003 | United States | Also classed as progressive metal [12] and stoner metal. [11] |
Big Business [13] | 2004 | United States | Also classed as stoner metal. [14] |
Bison B.C. [15] | 2006 | Canada | Also classed as stoner metal [16] and doom metal. [17] |
Black Tusk [18] | 2005 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal [19] [20] and hardcore punk. [20] |
Blood Circus [21] | 1988 | United States | |
Bongzilla [22] | 1995 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal. |
Boris [23] | 1992 | Japan | Also classed as experimental metal [24] and drone metal. [23] |
Burning Witch [25] | 1995 | United States | Also classed as doom metal [25] and stoner doom. [25] |
Buzzoven [26] | 1990 | United States | |
Cavity [27] | 1992 | United States | |
Celeste [28] | 2005 | France | Also classed as post-hardcore and black metal. [28] |
Conan [29] | 2006 | United Kingdom | Also classed as doom metal. [29] |
Conjurer [30] | 2014 | United Kingdom | Also classed as post-metal [31] and doom metal. [32] |
Corrosion of Conformity [33] | 1982 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal [34] and southern metal. [35] |
Corrupted [36] | 1994 | Japan | Also classed as doom metal and drone metal. |
Crowbar [37] | 1990 | United States | |
Cult of Luna [38] | 1998 | Sweden | Also classed as post-metal [39] and doom metal. [39] |
Down [33] | 1991 | United States | Also classed as southern metal [35] and stoner metal. [40] |
Dystopia [41] | 1991 | United States | Also classed as crust punk. [41] |
Eyehategod [42] | 1988 | United States | |
Fudge Tunnel [43] | 1988 | United Kingdom | Also classed as noise rock [43] and alternative metal. [44] |
Gaza [45] | 2004 | United States | Also classed as mathcore [46] and grindcore. [45] |
Godflesh [47] | 1988 | United Kingdom | Also classed as industrial metal [48] and experimental metal. [49] |
Graves at Sea [50] | 2002 | United States | Also classed as doom metal. [51] |
Greenmachine [52] | 1995 | Japan | Also classed as stoner metal. [53] |
Grief [54] | 1991 | United States | |
Harkonen [55] [56] | 1997 | United States | Also classed as post-hardcore [57] and math rock. [55] |
Harvey Milk [58] | 1992 | United States | |
Helms Alee [59] | 2007 | United States | Also classed as post-hardcore, [60] noise rock, [59] shoegaze, [59] and stoner metal. [59] |
High on Fire [61] | 1998 | United States | Also classed as stoner metal, [62] doom metal, [63] and thrash metal. [64] |
Isis [65] | 1997 | United States | Also classed as post-metal. [66] |
Iron Monkey [67] | 1994 | United Kingdom | |
Jucifer [68] | 1993 | United States | Also classed as noise rock. |
Keelhaul [69] | 1997 | United States | Also classed as mathcore [70] and post-hardcore. [71] |
KEN Mode [72] | 1999 | Canada | Also classed as noise rock [73] and post-hardcore. [74] |
Kingdom of Sorrow [75] | 2005 | United States | Also classed as metalcore. |
Knut [76] | 1994 | Switzerland | Also classed as mathcore. [77] |
Kylesa [78] | 2001 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal. [78] |
Lody Kong [79] | 2011 | United States | Also classed as hardcore punk, grunge and thrash metal. |
Lair of the Minotaur [80] | 2003 | United States | Also classed as thrash metal. [81] |
Mantar [82] | 2012 | Germany | |
Mastodon [83] | 2000 | United States | Also classed as progressive metal [84] and stoner metal. [85] |
Melvins [86] | 1983 | United States | Also classed as alternative rock, [87] experimental rock, [88] grunge, [89] noise rock, [90] and stoner rock. [91] |
Mico de Noche [92] | 2001 | United States | Also classed as stoner metal. [93] |
Mistress [94] | 1999 | United Kingdom | Also classed as grindcore and death metal. [94] [95] |
Neurosis [96] | 1985 | United States | Also classed as post-metal. [96] |
Nightstick [97] | 1992 | United States | Also classed as noise rock and acid rock. [97] |
The Ocean [98] | 2000 | Germany | Also classed as progressive metal, post-metal, and experimental metal. [99] |
Old Man Gloom [100] | 1999 | United States | Also classed as post-metal. [101] |
Part Chimp [102] | 2000 | United Kingdom | Also classed as noise rock. [102] |
Raging Speedhorn [103] | 1998 | United Kingdom | Also classed as extreme metal, [104] hardcore punk, [105] and stoner metal. [106] |
Raw Radar War [107] | 2002 | United States | Also classed as hardcore punk and crust punk. [107] |
Red Fang [108] | 2005 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal. |
Sofa King Killer [109] | 1999 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal. |
Shallow North Dakota [110] | 1993 | Canada | Also classed as noise rock. [111] |
Soilent Green [112] | 1988 | United States | Also classed as grindcore. [113] |
Sourvein [114] | 1993 | United States | Also classed as doom metal. [115] |
Stake [116] | 2004 | Belgium | Also classed as post-rock/metal. |
Sumac [117] | 2014 | Canada / United States | Also classed as post-metal. |
Superjoint Ritual [118] [119] | 1993 | United States | Also classed as hardcore punk. [119] |
Thou [120] | 2005 | United States | |
Torche [121] | 2004 | United States | Also classed as stoner rock/metal [121] and alternative rock. [122] |
Totimoshi [123] | 1999 | United States | Also classed as noise rock, [124] alternative rock, [125] stoner rock/metal, [126] and alternative metal. [127] |
Trenches [128] | 2007 | United States | Also classed as metalcore. [128] |
Vorvaň [129] | 2009 | Russia | Also classed as hardcore punk. [129] |
Weedeater [130] | 1998 | United States | Also classed as stoner metal. |
Whores [131] | 2010 | United States | Also classed as noise rock. [131] |
Willard [132] | 1989 | United States | Also classed as grunge, doom metal, and alternative metal. |
Will Haven [133] | 1995 | United States | Also classed as metalcore, [134] post-hardcore, [135] and alternative metal. [133] |
Year of No Light [136] | 2001 | France | Also classed as post-metal [137] and post-rock. [138] |
Zozobra [100] | 2006 | United States | Also classed as post-metal. |
Melvins are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Primarily a trio, they have also performed as a quartet, with either two drummers or two bassists. Since 1984, vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been constant members.
Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres. Both the music and the lyrics are intended to evoke a sense of despair, dread, and impending doom. The genre is strongly influenced by the early work of Black Sabbath, who formed a prototype for doom metal. During the first half of the 1980s, a number of bands such as Witchfinder General and Pagan Altar from England, American bands Pentagram, Saint Vitus, the Obsessed, Trouble, and Cirith Ungol, and Swedish band Candlemass defined doom metal as a distinct genre. Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Trouble and Candlemass have been referred to as "the Big Four of Doom Metal".
Fantômas is an American heavy metal supergroup formed in 1998 in California. It features vocalist Mike Patton, drummer Dave Lombardo (ex-Slayer), guitarist Buzz Osborne (Melvins) and bassist Trevor Dunn. The band is named after Fantômas, a supervillain featured in a series of crime novels popular in France before World War I and in film, most notably in the '60s French movie series.
Cephalic Carnage is an American deathgrind band formed in Denver, Colorado in 1992. The band comprises vocalist Leonard Leal, guitarists Steve Goldberg and Brian Hopp, drummer John Merryman and bassist Nick Schendzielos. Cephalic Carnage has released six studio albums and toured in North America, Europe and Japan.
Sludge metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that combines elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. The genre generally includes slow tempos, tuned down guitars and nihilistic lyrics discussing poverty, drug addiction and pollution.
Neurosis is an American post-metal band from Oakland, California. It was formed in 1985 by guitarist Scott Kelly, bassist Dave Edwardson, and drummer Jason Roeder, initially as a crust punk band. Chad Salter joined as a second guitarist and appeared on the band's 1987 debut Pain of Mind and then Steve Von Till replaced him in 1989. The following year, the lineup further expanded to include a keyboardist and a visual artist. Beginning with their third album Souls at Zero (1992), Neurosis transformed their hardcore sound by incorporating diverse influences including doom metal and industrial music, becoming a major force in the emergence of the post-metal and sludge metal genres.
Houdini is the fifth studio album by American rock band Melvins, released on September 21, 1993, by Atlantic Records. The album was the band's major label debut after releasing their previous albums through the independent label Boner Records.
Roger "Buzz" Osborne, also known as King Buzzo, is an American guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. He is a founding member of the rock band Melvins, as well as Fantômas and Venomous Concept.
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2000, the band's lineup of Troy Sanders (bass/vocals), Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor (drums/vocals) has remained unchanged since 2001. Mastodon has released eight studio albums, as well as a number of other releases. The band's 2002 debut album, Remission, garnered significant critical acclaim for its unique sound. Mastodon's second full-length release, Leviathan, is a concept album based on the novel Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. Three magazines awarded the record "Album of the Year" in 2004: Revolver, Kerrang! and Terrorizer.
Boris is a Japanese band that draws variously from styles such as sludge metal, drone, noise, psychedelia, and minimalism. Formed in 1992 in Tokyo, the band is composed of drummer Atsuo, guitarist/bassist Takeshi, and guitarist/keyboardist Wata. All three members contribute vocals. Boris has released more than 20 studio albums on various labels around the world, as well as a variety of live albums, compilations, EPs, singles, and collaborative albums. They have collaborated with acts such as Sunn O))), Merzbow, Keiji Haino, and guitarist Michio Kurihara.
Raging Speedhorn are a British extreme metal band formed in Corby, Northamptonshire in 1998.
Baroness is an American heavy metal band from Savannah, Georgia that has been active since 2003. Its early members grew up together in Lexington, Virginia. The band has undergone numerous lineup changes, with frontman John Baizley serving as the sole constant throughout. Baizley creates the artwork for all of the group's albums and has done artwork for other bands.
Kylesa is an American sludge metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with heavy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is from North Carolina.
Killer Be Killed is an American heavy metal supergroup founded by Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Greg Puciato and Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera in early 2011. The lineup also features Mastodon bassist and co-vocalist Troy Sanders and Converge drummer Ben Koller. The band had slowly been working on material before announcing its name in October 2013, along with their signing to Nuclear Blast. The group's self-titled debut record was released in 2014. In September 2020, the group returned with a new single, and released their second album Reluctant Hero in November of that year.
Whores is an American noise rock/sludge metal band based in Atlanta, Georgia. It currently consists of vocalist and guitarist Christian Lembach, bass guitarist Casey Maxwell and drummer Douglas Jennings Barrett. The band has released two records through Brutal Panda Records and is known for its "intensely cathartic live shows".
Full of Hell is an American grindcore band from Ocean City, Maryland, and Central Pennsylvania, that formed in 2009. They are currently signed to Relapse Records and have released six studio albums – Roots of Earth Are Consuming My Home (2011), Rudiments of Mutilation (2013), Trumpeting Ecstasy (2017), Weeping Choir (2019), Garden of Burning Apparitions (2021), and Coagulated Bliss (2024) – as well as several EPs and splits. In addition to studio albums, they've released five collaboration albums – Full of Hell & Merzbow (2014) with Japanese noise artist Merzbow, One Day You Will Ache Like I Ache (2016) and Ascending a Mountain of Heavy Light (2017) with sludge metal band the Body, Suffocating Hallucination with doom metal band Primitive Man in March 2023 and When No Birds Sang with shoegaze band Nothing in December 2023.
Emperor of Sand is the seventh studio album by American heavy metal band Mastodon. It was released on March 31, 2017 through record label Reprise Records. The album's first single, "Show Yourself", peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in 2017. The second single, "Steambreather", peaked at number 18 on the same chart. It was ranked on several year-end lists, including at number three on The Independent's "Top 20 Rock & Metal Albums of 2017".
... the long-running alt-rock outfit have revealed plans for a companion film
…manufacturing that sludgy, choleric sound…
Georgia's pretty damn good at producing great stoner sludge metal: In addition to Mastodon and Baroness there's Kylesa, who fuses basement punk and biker metal on Ultraviolet.
They have admirers in world-class progressive-metal outfits like Isis, Mastodon, and Tool
Mico de Noche's two brutal blasts of galvanized sludge are perfectly concise counterpoints.