Review of Dr. Slaggleberry - Tuc Into The Tar!

Long story short, Dr. Slaggleberry is an instrumental three-piece from the United Kingdom. I read somewhere that they had a vocalist on their previous release, but that hardly seems relevant here. Based on the name and cover art, I was expecting some retro-thrash. What I got instead is what I can best describe as a mix of Annihilator, Porcupine Tree, and Dysrhythmia (off-time progressive thrash?) – and my biggest complaint is that, at about 13 minutes, it’s just too damn short.

Tuc Into the Tar! was recorded live in the studios of London-based radio station XFM, which based on the overall sound is equivalent to a regular ol’ recording studio. The three tracks here are true instrumentals – you don’t even miss or want to hear vocals. They’re also catchy as hell, each one leaning a bit more in one direction than the others. “Extra Strength Grandma” is a thrash-based tune that could just as well come out of the Jeff Waters riffology. “Lead Rabbit” is a little more “math-metal”–like (boy, I hate that phrase), with some unexpected twists and turns. “Tails of the Blind Donkey” tends to be a bit more progressive, with multiple time and tempo changes while maintaining parts of the band’s other musical elements.

There really isn’t much else that can be said. Well, that or I just don’t know enough technical musical terms to describe it. However, I’m sure that the members of Dr. Slaggleberry are all familiar with virtuosos and trembalos and arpeggios and all that stuff beyond “jug-jigga-jug-jigga-jug-jigga-jug-jigga-jug-jigga-JAH-JAH.” Tuc Into the Tar! is a fun little instrumental EP with a good amount of bite, and I look forward to seeing if they can deliver on a full-length release.

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Dr. Slaggleberry

Tuc Into The Tar!

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