Blacksmoker came to my attention earlier when Boris of the epic German instrumental post-metal band Omega Massif joined their ranks. Rupture is the band’s second release, following their debut full length in 2014, and is deeply rooted in the stoner scene, including big riffs, bounce and the pace associated with stoner bands such as Orange Goblin, but adding a thick sludge veneer which recalls mid-period Mastodon and that brings a contemporary edge to a record that might have felt a little dated otherwise. ‘Rupture’ opens up the record with an energetic bouncy pace and a decidedly old school flavour to it. Bolstered by some smart driving riffs and a lot of doubled up lead guitars the song relies on momentum to keep moving. The Mastodon feel appears here in the chorus riff, a choppy break leading into a wider open groove, reminiscent of riffs from Crack The Skye. This is both a good thing and a bad thing; these sections elevate the song over some of the more generic stoner (and almost classic rock style) riffs, bringing a level of groove that wouldn’t have been present otherwise, but although the feel is similar, the riffs don’t feel as strong; they miss the invention and the unusual touches that Mastodon bring to their rhythms.
