Fudge Tunnel

Simply on the basis of their debut LP Hate Songs in E Minor (1996), Fudge Tunnel have to be ranked among Metal's greats. A monumental slab of molten feedback, genetically cloned riffs, and earth-moving bass licks, there's nothing else like it in rock 'n' roll -- unfortunately, not even subsequent releases stack up track for track. Their follow-up Creep Diets observes the same formula and reaps the same organ-mulching results, but by the time Fudge Tunnel rolled out Complicated Futility of Ignorance in 1994, their sonic muscle had begun to atrophy. Sensing that the band was foundering, lead guitarist and vocalist Alex Newport closed up shop and formed side project Nailbomb with Sepultura's Igor Cavalera. Fudge Tunnel doesn't offer any of the virtuoso guitar wanking or shrill vocals that typify Metal. Instead, this band takes you down the genre's low road -- a feedback-wallowing sludgefest for those who are unafraid of getting a little muddy.