### Clamfight: I versus the glacier

#### 04/03/13 || gk

Clamfight’s debut album, 2010’s “Volume I” wasn’t particularly special but it did hint at the potential this band had and was a collection of solid stoner metal songs. The band is back in 2013 with the follow up and “I versus the glacier” is a step up in every way.

Right from album opener “The eagle” it’s pretty apparent that the band has grown since the debut. Big, fat grooves and a bluesy, laid back vibe sit almost at odds with the harsh vocal approach but it’s catchy and a fun start. “Sandrider” is upbeat and groovy but the surprise is in the tasty lead guitar that lifts the song above expectations. Title song “I versus the glacier” alternates between a kickass stoner metal riff on the verse and a chorus that’s a bit hardcore in nature and the song takes off in its second half with another superb guitar solo. “Age of reptiles” has a swagger to it that’s most appealing and an impressive performance behind the drum kit from Andy Martin as he provides the momentum and drives this song forward. “Mountain” is more of a mid-paced plod with some very cool bass playing and a trippy second half with some more fluid lead guitar. “The green gods of yag” is an instrumental that once again shows the bands love for the riff while album closer “Stealing the ghost horse” is mid-paced and friendly till about the halfway mark where it takes on a much darker tone as clean vocals and growls alternate over a steady pounding riff. It’s a pretty great way to close out the album.

Guitarists Sean McKee and Joel Harris do a damn good job right through this album. Whether in crafting heavy grooves or solos, the duo are pretty much spot on. Louis Koble’s bass sounds slightly distorted and creates a thick and chunky bottom end and he makes up one half of a very good rhythm section. Drummer and vocalist Andy Martin sounds like the backbone with his drumming adding heft to the songs and I was waiting for his one dimensional barking approach to get old but it works quite well in the context of these songs.

Clamfight borrow from sludge, doom and stoner but don’t really belong to any one genre. The band has come a long way since their debut album in a relatively short period of time. The songwriting has gotten way better and the band now knows when to rein the song in. Fans of groovy, stoner friendly metal should find plenty to like on “I versus the glacier”.

- Information
- Released: 2012
- Label: Maple Forum
- Website: Clamfight Facebook
- Band
- Andy Martin: vocals, drums
- Sean McKee: guitars
- Joel Harris: guitars
- Louis Koble: bass

- Tracklist
- 01. The Eagle
- 02. Sandriders
- 03. Shadow Line
- 04. I vs. the Glacier
- 05. Age of Reptiles
- 06. River of Ice
- 07. Mountain
- 08. The Green God of Yag
- 09. Stealing the Ghost Horse