Kicking off with a dark ambient introduction and then transitioning into heavy, doom-filled sludge metal with some faster, more aggressive sections, “Thermoclines” by French post metal / doom / sludge metal band VALVE incorporates a plethora of bleak and heavy ingredients that explore many different expressions of malevolence in its sound. Blending sludge with hardcore, fast-paced, mathcore-influenced add-ons, it slows down, incorporates elements of noise rock, post rock and effectively conveys the range of styles present on the album. We haven’t heard such a compact, yet diverse offering that captures the menacing, dynamic, and varied nature of sludge metal so well. Today, we’re giving it a proper nod with a special track by track commentary from the band. Speaking...