siLLy puPPy ORYX is an interesting new band that creates a rather unique style of blackened doom sludge metal and does quite a good job in the process. Formed in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2012, the band of Abigail Apple (drums), Thomas Davis (guitar, vocals), James (bass) and Eric Dodgion (bass) relocated to Denver, Colorado in 2015. The band has released a few albums and splits but so far i’ve only become acquainted with this two song EP titled BORN INTO MADNESS which came out in 2018.

It’s only got two songs but each slinks over the 9 minute mark. “Consumption” starts things off with a caustic sludgy guitar riff that has black metal guitar tones and prods along like a doom metal record on perpetual skipping mode. The riffs have a touch of Black Sabbath as well. The drums are set in a sludge metal slumber and the vocals are more raspy like black metal. The distortion is a thick angry darkened atmosphere that reminds of Eyehategod, Grime or Grief but the tones of the guitar have darker black metal detachment to them.

The second track “Proliferation” is a bit more progressive in how the riffs churn along with a bit more drum action that is more varied. The tones of the guitars have an interesting sustain that reminds me of drone metal bands like Sunn O))) but this is sludge metal in structure with textures borrowed from other metal subs. The lumbering procession of the riffs also brings a touch of stoner metal to the table as this is a very odd mix of lazy tempos fortified by energetic deliveries of the instrumentation. The vocals are set down in the mix so they have to struggle to break through the tumultuous din of the guitar, bass and drums.

This is a really cool twin set of blackened sludge metal with doom, stoner and even a few drone metal techniques. The overall effect is wicked and because of the slight variations that decorate the rather ho hum doom marches, the album is actually quite engaging and keeps things from stagnating into a repetitive doldrum. ORYX is definitely a band to look out for if you love those raw and filthy styles of metal that borrows the most extreme and abrasive elements of disparate sub-genera and throws them all into the melting pot to forge a new battle sword for the metal music battlefield. Now this is what i call depravity in musical form. The slow doomy sludge infused riffs give this an evil as fuck demeanor that even many black metal bands fail to achieve. Wickedly cool!