Vol. #172: Artemus Ward - “Annihilation”
Rustbelt Rock Review
By: Z.M. Delgado
Rustbeltrockreview.com
Volume #172: Artemus Ward - “Annihilation”
December 6, 2024
Hello all my fellow passengers on Spacecraft Earth, I hope this edition finds you well. It is with great pleasure that I once again sit down at my keyboard to bring you another dose of Cleveland Metal. This week I’ve got a good one for you. It is an album that I just recently picked up and I am pretty excited about. The record is titled “Annihilation” and it is the product of Cleveland, Ohio’s Artemus Ward. This is a five member operation, consisting of Billy Crooked (Vocals), SP Grady (Guitar), Kevin Naughton (Bass), Joe Hanson (Guitar) and Mike Varga (Drums). The band recently reached out to me, and I gave the record a listen; quickly establishing that this was a collection of songs that needed to be examined by the RbRR. They describe themselves as “Sludgy Metal from the dirty streets of Cleveland, Ohio” and for the most part that coincides with my initial feelings on the band. There is definitely some Sludgy-ness at work here, but also Doom, Stoner and some Southern Metal influences as well. If I had to describe Artemus Ward’s sound I would say it is some kind of hybrid between Corrosion of Conformity and early Black Sabbath. You get that dirty down South feel of CoC stretched out over the lengthy composition of a Sabbath song. With tracks ranging from a respectable 5:45 to a monumental 8:11, there are no short pieces on this album. Each song is a well developed composition, while avoiding becoming overly complex. With such long songs, the temptation to become Proggy is always there, thankfully Artemus Ward avoids this trap. Rather than bog them down with an overly technical display, they stay in their lane and provide a far smoother vibration. These tracks have a groove to them, they stick to it and that’s a good thing. To me this style of Metal is all about the vibe, and Artemus Ward has vibe for days. With all that being said, lets take a closer look...
The album opens with “Lord of the Underdark.” the first notes are resonant and ominous, giving way to sludgy opening sequence. Then about 45 seconds in the tempo jumps up and the whole thing takes off. What develops is eight minutes of romping, stomping, kick in the ass Rock N’ Roll. The Vocalist really impresses me. He sings clean with a rough edge that adds a lot of grit to the overall sound. He has significant range; producing big notes and at times screaming with potency. There is some excellent guitar action in here, both in the rhythm as well as the leads. The riff has a galloping cadence and the solos are slippery and sly. “Lord of the Underdark” is jam without a doubt and it is a one hell of a way to jump start an album.
I really dig “Mutiny Coalition.” The riff here really chugs and the tempo is contagious. More noteworthy Guitar work manifests as well, with shredding solos and spicy lead licks. The lyrics seem to recount a tale of rebellion... which I am still decoding, while digging severely. Intriguing lyrics are an important aspect of Metal that often goes overlooked, and I have to say Artemus Ward has some interesting things to talk about.
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Speaking of interesting lyrics, “Age of Pestilence” begins with some bizarre ancient verse or perhaps a magic spell. Following it’s menacing intro it breaks into another of those fantastic sludgy riffs and the song just grows. I’m a big fan of the vocal pattern on the verse on this track, and it makes me really want to sing along. I also have to point out how hard Rocking the chorus on this one is too.
“Blood for Blood” is another collection of slamming riffs and here I really get that Southern Metal influence trickling in. This song is loaded with slick Guitars, but it also has a breakdown with some excellent Bass flourishes. On “Blood for Blood” Artemus Ward has again managed to write an absolute hammer of a chorus which will have you throwing up your horns for sure.
Which brings us to the title track, the final song and my personal favorite piece on the album: “Annihilation.” This bad boy starts out with some unassuming light Drums, a little Bass and a slight riff. Before long though it rips open and roars pretty much from then on. Slamming hard Guitars, thunderous Drums and intense Vocals push the verse hard and fast. The all out onslaught of the verse is contrasted by the slower more melodic chorus. The Vocal melody of this chorus is possibly the best moment on the entire album. In addition to a showcase Vocal performance, “Annihilation” is packed full of excellent instrumental work; the entire band seeming to show off their skills on this track. Without a doubt this song is highlight, the capstone and the crowning achievement of the collection.
So there you have it, my synopsis of “Annihilation” by Artemus Ward. And yes, you probably guessed it, I love this record. For all the reasons I listed above, and for probably a lot more that I can’t think of at the moment. It’s about having a solid groove, and stellar vibe. It’s about being hard Rocking and powerful in your approach. It’s about having chops, showing them off without sounding like your showing off at all. It’s about smooth Basslines, perfectly nuanced drums, wild Vocal presence, astounding riffs and nasty leads. It would appear that when you add all those things up, that it is all about Artemus Ward. I highly recommend “Annihilation” and encourage you to buy a copy with all haste, its well worth it. On that note I will bid you a fond farewell. Bang you heads, hoist your horns and always wear your earplugs.
Until next time, Rock on, Rustbelt,
-Z.M. Delgado
Rustbelt Rock Review
Rustbeltrockreview.com
1/10-1/11/2025
Links:
https://artemusward1.bandcamp.com/album/annihilation
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