Few bands, if any, take sludge to the pitiless extremes that Primitive Man manage, so it's a brave combo indeed that accedes to a split with them. Sea Bastard, over the course of the 19+ minute hell-spawned slay ride that constitutes "The Hermit" give their cohorts more than a crawl for their money though. This is a black, scummed-out blizzard of grisly, unforgiving noise and we should bow before their decaying altar with all the deference one gives such cheerless sonic despondency. Nic Brown