What makes Beastwars by Beastwars notable?

Beastwars received critical acclaim upon release, positioning the band as a significant player in the sludge metal scene. The album topped the New Zealand album charts, showcasing its commercial success despite being an underground genre, and helped establish Beastwars' reputation internationally. Upon its release in January 2011, Beastwars marked the debut album for the New Zealand band of the same name. At this time, they were relatively unknown outside their home country but quickly gained recognition for their unique sound, blending elements of doom and sludge metal with a distinctly atmospheric approach.

How many songs are on Beastwars?

Beastwars has 9 tracks, running approximately 39 minutes.

Beastwars

Beastwars · 2011

39 min · 9 tracks · sludge metal

A thunderous blend of sludge metal and atmospheric heaviness, punctuated by haunting vocals and dense, distorted guitar work.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Damn the Sky — The opening track sets the tone with its heavy riffs and dynamic shifts, encapsulating the band's signature sound while introducing listeners to their thematic concerns.
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Lake of Fire — This track features an intense buildup that culminates in an explosive chorus, exemplifying the band's ability to fuse melody with crushing heaviness.
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Cthulhu — Named after Lovecraft's creature, this song showcases intricate guitar work and a haunting atmosphere, reflecting on themes of cosmic horror prevalent throughout the album.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

63 /100

Treeline

Higher than 74% of albums we've rated

Beastwars delivers a powerful debut with strong compositions and cohesive sound, marking its place in sludge metal.

What we noticed

The album opens with a heavy, distorted guitar riff that sets a dark tone, which is maintained throughout the first half of the record.
Vocals are layered with effects, creating an atmospheric quality that complements the dense instrumentation.
Several tracks feature tempo shifts, alternating between slow, crushing riffs and faster, aggressive sections, enhancing the dynamic range.
The final track concludes with an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, leaving a lingering heaviness.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 8/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Damn the Sky 5:18
2 Lake of Fire 4:08
3 Mihi 3:41
4 Daggers 4:52
5 Call Out the Dead 4:35
6 Red God 2:49
7 Iron Wolf 4:22
8 Cthulhu 4:45
9 Empire 4:33

What to play next

Full Beastwars discography Artists like Beastwars

sludge metal

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata