Zero And Below

Heavy times demand heavy music. Crowbar continue to be among the heaviest ever.

While it may not deviate from the sonic template, there was simply never any expectation of this; instead, Windstein and co. have delivered another platter of tar-thick despondency and desolation that only upholds and strengthens their already mighty stature.

Does it topple the self-titled or Time Heals Nothing as my personal go-tos? No, but it’s a welcome aural bludgeoning while it’s playing. And like I said, the wheel doesn’t need further improvements. Some tweaks would be welcome, sure, but if the wheel works, leave it be.

There are definitely no surprises here, and that’s not a bad thing. After three decades of delivering tarpit odes to desolation, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” has never rung more true. Fans know exactly what to expect of Crowbar, so they’ll be stoked to find that that’s exactly what they’re getting on Zero And Below.