The Savannah sludge lords Black Tusk are reinventing themselves fully on this new LP, The Way Forward, and in doing so, this release succeeds on bringing their sound into 2024.
While it’s natural for any band’s sound to evolve over time, Black Tusk feel especially innovative on this, their sixth full-length release. It’s clear on this album that they are harder and heavier than ever on this record. The theme on the record is clearly about pushing forward and prevailing against the odds, and they convey this message alongside heavy, crushing rhythms. This is their darkest album to date, and one that picks up where previous works left off but with a renewed vigor.
The band have stated that this album is about “putting your life back together,” and that tracks on this recording really show that. There is a dark energy permeating the record that carries through the entire release, but there is also a feeling of hope and coming out on the other end.
One of the strongest tracks on the record is “Brushfire,” one of the singles from the album, which is loud aggressive, and has riffs for days. “Dance on Your Grave” is another powerful single, one that really harnesses that raw energy of refreshed renewal and coming out the other side stronger. It’s a story of triumph. Another song along that line is “Breath of Life” with a heavy, pulsing beat and noodling riffs that remind us why life is good despite the darkness.
Doom is a genre that I see creeping slowly back into the collective metal consciousness after years in the shadows, and it is coming back with a heavy vengeance, much like this Black Tusk record. There are a lot of other strong moments on the record, so many so that it’s hard to pick specific moments. “Lift Yourself” is another banger; this is one to put on whenever you’re feeling down and need a riff-fueled pick-me-up. And the title track ending the record is the perfect high note to sign off on.
Nearly twenty years into their career, Black Tusk show no sign of stopping or slowing down. We hope there’s a lot more to come.
Black Tusk’s The Way Forward is out April 26 via Season of Mist. Preorder the album here.
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