Outlaw Order, Dragging Down the Enforcer
Featuring all but one member from EyeHateGode, as well as, Arson Anthem and Soilent Green, Outlaw Order is another incarnation for sludgier than hell metal steaming up from the back allies of New Orleans. You can imagine what this one sounds like based on the member’s previous and/or current engagements in the music scene.
Slow, trudging guitars that are doom laden, slathered in sewer sludge and passed through the resinous end of a well used bong dominate Dragging Down the Enforcer, the group’s debut release. The overall feel, besides thick and doomy, is raw with pummeling rhythms and vocals. The vocal delivery is caustic and screamed from the depths of post Katrina destruction with an in-your-face vehemence not seen in the other bands these guys play in. Simply put, Outlaw Order thrive on confrontation and will bury you face down in bile ridden sludge without a second thought.
Intro
The opening intro includes some dissonant noise, a sound clip and lasts just under a minute.
Relive the Crime
“Relive the Crime” starts off the album properly with an opening riff that’s catchy and doomy. The rest of the band and vocals come in shortly after the start and increase the pace to a subtle bludgeoning. The slowdown after :30 is beefy as hell and will blow a few speakers with stoner influenced doom riffs. The vocals are raw and emotional as they belt out gritty lyrics under the heavy riffs and rhythms.
Safety Off
Some heavy handed drum work starts off this next track, encompassing the first 30 seconds before a direct and thick bass line comes in. The guitars come in 20 seconds later with some heavy doom riffs. “Safety Off” ends up having a great groove in it beneath seriously thick rhythms and guitar work.
Double Barrel Solves Everything
A couple of big guitar hits and solid drumming fill the first 20 seconds or so before a vocal belch comes in with the sludgy guitars. I love the thick bass work at the one minute mark. It proves to be a nice reprieve to get your head above the waste and catch your breath before diving back into the murky, sludgy depths.
Alcohol Tobacco Firearms
Another great drum beat starts off this next one as thick, doomy yet completely rocking guitars come in with a shout from the vocalist — who, by the way, has a stellar delivery on this one.
Mercy Shot
Punk fuels the sludgy riffs that get “Mercy Shot” off to a raw start. Beefy rhythms come in like thunder on the horizon as the vocals spit pure fucking attitude. There’s a thick bit of bass and distorted guitars around 1:35 that leads into a big scream and huge stoner infused riffing. The song ends in a flurry of furious action.
Narco-Terroristos
Distorted guitars and heavy drum work get this next song off to a raucous start. There’s a thick, doomy groove to the track as the group moves under the cover of night to deliver truck loads of sludge.
Siege Mentality
I love the opening riff as “Siege Mentality” begins to lay siege to your skull with a constant bombardment of thunder rhythms and crushing riffs. The vocals are even on the attack, spraying aggression all over the place. I’m definitely digging this one.
Walking Papers
Another series of memorable riffs opens up “Walking Papers.” The groove to this one is raw and infectious — you’ll be head banging along in no time. The feel of this one is decidedly stoner with a heavy dose of sludge caked into the mix. There’s a great shift at the two minute mark that brings in some massive riffs, groove and an incredible solo.
Dragging Down the Enforcer
The title track starts out with a heavy, suffocating rhythm and great riffs before the pace explodes some 30 seconds into the track with drum blasts. The riffing at the one minute mark bring in caustic vocals and heavy drums. Talk about a hell of a title track. There’s a great groove, solid rhythms and heavy as hell riffs — hell, it’s even got some of the slowest, doom riffs you’ll find anywhere in New Orleans.
Outro
The outro has a bunch of ambient noise, guitar chirps and ambient dissonance in the background. I’m not sure that the album gains anything from it and would have been better off ending with the frenzy of activity from the title track.
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Favorite Tracks:
All of them
Additional Notes:
N/A