Endless Descent is the new album from Florida stoner/sludge metal band Junior Bruce, the first since 2012's The Headless King. It is a concept album that chronicles "one person's struggle to rescue their one love from the depths of the abyss. In their attempts to open a gateway to the underworld they unwittingly set free upon the earth legions of demons and beasts that ultimately consumes not only their soul, but all of humanity." This is the band's first LP without Brett Tanner due to his unfortunate passing after The Headless King.
Junior Bruce sports some deliciously Southern riffs that are dripping with blues, but know how to rock hard as well. Elements bleed through their sunburnt skin from bands like Clutch, Mastodon, Kyuss, and The Bendal Interlude. If you like to play epic air guitar and dress up like Mad Max, this is the s#!t for you. The story gives off a Heavy Metal vibe with its monsters and other fantastical elements as well as its raging hard-on for riffage. I think the opener "Lapis Philosophorum" and its accompanying animated video below speak pretty well for themselves.
The vocals are particularly gruff and strained in the throat. Certainly the kind of sound that should only come from a well-bearded man, extra points if he's a lumberjack. But for all of the killer bass grooves, monster hooks, and infectious vocals; it's the drumming that you don't want to miss. "The Worthless Ones" has a snare pattern that made me want to turn my drive home into a session of Crazy Taxi or The Road Warrior. That 5/4 time signature had me puzzled for a while, but I think I've got it right now.
All said and done, Endless Descent is a little uneven but never unenjoyable. The two tracks I named above along with "Lion's Teeth" are easy favorites and the energy across the entire album is ineffable. Even when things slow down a bit after the interlude, there is a heavy smell of cannabis in the air and plenty nods to Black Sabbath in some of the riffs. The instrumental portion of "Night Hag" and slippery bass intro to "Lesser Key" must have been hard to play in a clam baked studio. I can't see the fretboard! Where am I? Good stuff guys. Sleep it off.