Angry Metal Guy<p><a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/rustorm-gravity-review/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Rustorm – Gravity Review</a></p><p><i>By GardensTale</i></p><p>I feel like I’ve seen an uptick in bands formed from people who played music several decades ago and only recently returned to it. One explanation could be empty nest syndrome: dropping out of music to raise a kid, pick up an old hobby once they’ve moved out. Midlife crises are a popular scapegoat as well, but sometimes it’s just the natural waxing and waning of interests as life takes us hither and tither. <strong>Rustorm</strong> is two Brits, Jules McBride (bass) and Rob Lewis (everything else),<a href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/rustorm-gravity-review/#fn-213279-1" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">1</a> who were last seen around the turn of the century with short-lived alternative metal band <strong>Pulkas</strong>. A couple years ago they pulled the spiderwebs off their old gear, bought a couple of new pedals, and got to writing. <em>Gravity</em> is their second outing, but is <strong>Rustorm</strong> still rusty or does it take us by storm?</p><p>Before you get the wrong idea, these guys haven’t picked up where <strong>Pulkas</strong> left off playing alt metal. Instead, <strong>Rustorm</strong> peddles an atmospheric brand of doom-laden sludge, employing hypnotic rhythms, layered synths, and purposeful repetition. The riffs are simplistic, intending not to dazzle or hook but to impart overwhelming weight with their crushing gravel-filled textures. McBride does the other half of that job, with a thick, thrumming bass that’s given plenty of room to add more heft. With a couple of instrumental tracks (“Low-down” and “Suspension of <em>Gravity</em>”) and a few higher energy bangers in the back half (“Drown it out” and “Seven Sacrifice”), the 38 minute package is a well-rounded set of songs that may not shock the world, but absolutely appeals.</p><p></p><p><em>Gravity</em> is nonetheless still quite rough around the edges. Lewis’ vocal style consists of a bark from the throat with limited range. It’s the most technically challenged item on the bill, often coming across as harsh speaking rather than singing. But <strong>Rustorm</strong> does use the vocals in a more percussive rather than melodic manner, which mitigates the damage a tad. <strong>Rustorm</strong> suffers from a few other issues besides the vocals, but they are predictable and not very serious. A focus on texture and atmosphere at the expense of more involved riffs or hooks often means songs can get a little repetitive as they go on, and the compositions can feel somewhat risk-averse.</p><p></p><p>But <strong>Rustorm</strong> hits more than it misses. “Snowcrash” is the first and highest peak, its synths setting a sinister tone akin to old school horror movies that gels well with the bleak lyrical content. The back half sketches in a darker shade overall and is better for it. “Drown it Out” takes on shades of New York hardcore and is poised to cause some teeth to be left on the floor of the mosh pit, and “Seven Sacrifice” has a nasty and gnarly chorus that contrasts nicely with the atmospheric verses. Considering <em>Gravity</em> was self-produced, the production is quite solid as well. Though the vocals tend to be high in the mix and the synths sound a bit too stock, the guitars and bass have a very nice, crunchy texture that supports the band’s heavy sound. The mastering is slightly dense, but only to the point of feeling oppressive, not sounding like shit.</p><p><strong>Rustorm</strong> is a passion project, that much is clear, and <em>Gravity</em> a labor of love. The gents won’t be shocking the world or headlining festivals anytime soon; they don’t have the polish yet, nor the level of songwriting. The music can be overly simplistic in structure, the vocals too one-note. But there is a lot of charm to <em>Gravity</em>, a commitment to a vision that shines past the little flaws. It comes through in the ominous atmosphere, the crushing low-tuned riffs, and the deliberate pacing. It makes me wanna turn the volume up, put on my nasty face, bob my head on the beat, and grunt about snowcrashes and sacrifices. What’s a better mark of success than that?</p> <p><strong>Rating:</strong> 3.0/5.0<br><strong>DR:</strong> 6 | <strong>Format Reviewed:</strong> PCM<br><strong>Label:</strong> Self-released<br><strong>Websites:</strong> <a href="http://rustorm.bandcamp.com" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">rustorm.bandcamp.com</a> | <a href="http://rustorm.net" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">rustorm.net</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/RustormMusic" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">facebook.com/RustormMusic</a><br><strong>Releases Worldwide:</strong> March 7th, 2025</p><p><a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/2025/" target="_blank">#2025</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/30/" target="_blank">#30</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/atmospheric-metal/" target="_blank">#AtmosphericMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/british-metal/" target="_blank">#BritishMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/doom-metal/" target="_blank">#DoomMetal</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/gravity/" target="_blank">#Gravity</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/mar25/" target="_blank">#Mar25</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/pulkas/" target="_blank">#Pulkas</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/review/" target="_blank">#Review</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/reviews/" target="_blank">#Reviews</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/rustorm/" target="_blank">#Rustorm</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/self-released/" target="_blank">#SelfReleased</a> <a rel="nofollow noopener" class="hashtag u-tag u-category" href="https://www.angrymetalguy.com/tag/sludge/" target="_blank">#Sludge</a></p>