Sever the Wicked Hand
Crowbar · 2011
52 min · 12 tracks · sludge metal
Heavy, brooding riffs intertwine with haunting melodies, creating an atmosphere of despair and cathartic release.
Top tracks — play these first
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Sever the Wicked Hand — The title track encapsulates the album's themes of struggle and redemption, driven by crushing guitar riffs and a relentless rhythm that exemplifies Crowbar's signature sound.
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Let Me Mourn — This track showcases a more melodic approach while maintaining heaviness, highlighting emotional depth through introspective lyrics and dynamic shifts in intensity.
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Liquid Sky and Cold Black Earth — With its expansive length, this song combines atmospheric elements with brutal riffs, creating a powerful journey that reflects the album's darker themes.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends heavy riffs with melodic elements, showcasing strong craftsmanship and solid songwriting.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features tracks that maintain a consistent mid-tempo heaviness, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Several tracks incorporate haunting melodies layered over heavy, distorted riffs, creating a contrast between aggression and introspection.
- The final track features an extended instrumental outro that gradually fades out, emphasizing a sense of closure.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
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.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- brooding atmosphere of despair
- cathartic release through heaviness
- reflective moments of solitude
- pacing that rewards deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- seeking upbeat, lively tracks
- prefer instant gratification sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, Sever the Wicked Hand marked Crowbar's return after a four-year hiatus following their album Lifesblood for the Bastard. The band was well-established in the sludge metal scene by this point, known for their heavy sound and dark themes, and this album continued to solidify their influence within the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Down· Eyehategod· Acid Bath
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Isolation (Desperation) 4:15
- 2 Sever the Wicked Hand 3:16
- 3 Liquid Sky and Cold Black Earth 6:24
- 4 Let Me Mourn 4:51
- 5 The Cemetery Angels 4:02
- 6 As I Become One 4:56
- 7 A Farewell to Misery 3:44
- 8 Protectors of the Shrine 3:29
- 9 I Only Deal in Truth 3:20
- 10 Echo an Eternity 5:03
- 11 Cleanse Me, Heal Me 3:42
- 12 Symbiosis 5:05
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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