''Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form'' is the seventh studio album by American
sludge metal
Sludge metal (also known as sludge or sludge doom) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that originated through combining elements of doom metal and hardcore punk. It is typically harsh and abrasive, often featuring shouted vocals, heavi ...
band
Crowbar. It was released on August 21, 2001. It is the last album to feature guitarist Sammy Duet, and the first and only album to feature bassist Jeff Okoneski and ex-
Machine Head
A machine head (also referred to as a tuning machine, tuner, or gear head) is a geared apparatus for tuning stringed musical instruments by adjusting string tension. Machine heads are used on mandolins, guitars, double basses and others, and ar ...
drummer
Tony Costanza
Tony Costanza (July 2, 1968 – August 4, 2020) was an American drummer, known for being the first drummer for the heavy metal band Machine Head, playing in the band from 1992 to 1993.
Career
Costanza received jazz lessons from Irv Kluger. Infl ...
.
Songs such as "The Lasting Dose" and "To Build a Mountain" have become mandatory staples on Crowbar's live setlists.
The front cover is of St. Anthony's Garden behind
St. Louis Cathedral in
, Louisiana.
Reception
''Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form'' has received critical acclaim. Robert Davis of
Sputnikmusic
Sputnikmusic is an American music community website offering music criticism and music news alongside features commonly associated with wiki-style websites. The format of the website is unusual in that it includes both professional and amateur c ...
gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 stars, noting "instrumentally the band has never sounded fresher or more alive" and "each and every song on 'Sonic excess…' is charged with more melancholy and beautiful solemnity than ever before".
Pete Pardo of Sea of Tranquility gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, saying "this album shows that simply Crowbar are masters of what they do...one of the finest releases within its genre." German website
metal.de named it the best metal album of 2001.
Track listing
Personnel
*
Kirk Windstein
Kirk Windstein (born April 14, 1965) is an American musician. He is the frontman, vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and sole constant member of the sludge metal band Crowbar. He is also a founding member of the heavy metal supergroup Down, playing g ...
– vocals, rhythm guitar
*Sammy Pierre Duet – lead guitar
*Jeff "Okie" Okoneski – bass
*
Tony Costanza
Tony Costanza (July 2, 1968 – August 4, 2020) was an American drummer, known for being the first drummer for the heavy metal band Machine Head, playing in the band from 1992 to 1993.
Career
Costanza received jazz lessons from Irv Kluger. Infl ...
– drums
References
{{Authority control
Crowbar (American band) albums
2001 albums