Slugdge’s Dim & Slimeridden Kingdoms: New Candidate for Best Album of 2015?

“Someone get this band on a label already!” MetalSucks’ own Dave Mustein demanded last year, following the release of Slugdge‘s Gastronomicon (their 2013 offering, Born of Slime, also made Dave’s “Best Of” list that year). Alas, Slugdge are still unsigned, and self-released their latest album, Dim & Slimeridden Kingdoms, earlier this week.

But the labels’ loss is your gain — because Dim is available on Bandcamp for whatever price you want (yes, free is an option). And it… fucking… RULES.

Although the name of both the band and the album might lead some to think this is, in fact, a sludge album (or, er, a slugdge album), it’s actually progressive melodeath — really, really, really well-written progressive melodeath. Rarely do seven- and eight-minute songs fly by as quickly as these do… and the reason they fly by is because they’re all just so damn well-crafted. Every shift feels organic, every guitar lick is heavy and groovy and catchy and everything-else-you-could-possibly-want-y, the music has structure and hooks… in short, Dim & Slimeridden kingdoms is FUN. Put this album on in the background when you’re cleaning your apartment, and you’ll feel compelled to stop at least once every minute to headbang; put this album on in the foreground and give it your full attention, and you’ll feel compelled at least once every minute to headbang a LOT. Don’t even try to fight it — there’s no point. Just given into the power of Slugdge.

Is Dim & Slimeridden Kingdoms one of the best metal albums of 2015? I dunno, but it’s definitely getting serious consideration for my list. I implore you to check it out, which you can do below. Then get it here.

And, oh, P.S.: SERIOUSLY, SOMEONE GET THIS BAND ON A LABEL ALREADY!!!