Metal Underground.com

“Meat Ditch” is a collaboration between ambient noise machine Winters in Osaka and the downtuned sludge-fest of Bongripper. Combining moody, ambient effects and doom-y, chugging guitar work, the two bands have created an immersive and atmospheric EP that will definitely appeal to fans of both the noise and sludge genres, but isn't an album for everyone.

The EP is one long track bearing the album’s title. It starts out very psychedelic with tribal drumming, backed by ambient noises. One thing that really stood out to me about this album is how well the two genres mix, sounding very similar in sound to a bands House of Low Culture and MGR. The two bands definitely demonstrate that they can mix sounds well and still make it interesting.

The whole thing is definitely an interesting listen, but feels a little lacking in substance in places. For example, the beginning, while interesting, doesn’t really have a lot going for it and wouldn’t surprise me if even the most esoteric and niche of fans were to grow bored. Also, the album, even though it is only about nineteen minutes long, seems to come to a rather abrupt and unresolved ending.

“Meat Ditch” is an intriguing and well produced collaboration between two dark bands playing very dark music. Fans of the genre will appreciate the mood and nature of the music, but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who has never been into this kind of stuff.