Review by Anna on March 10, 2010.

Listening to this album is like reading diary accounts of someone's severely fucked up life, and apparently mind... at times humorous, often times sobering, and many times heart-wrenching. Quite frankly, this work of art is honest as fuck. It is only through this level of dignified honesty that one can connect to a work on such an intimate level. "Live At Colonia Dignidad" is a glimpse into a psyche that's trudged through the most putrid cesspits of life, a point where nothing but the raw filth of your unyielding, agonizing existence is felt. It will certainly conjure forth what pain lies deep within you, and if you're anything like me, a most extreme and maternal sympathy. A journey through this mind-altering insanity offers a purifying release in the most enlightening of ways.

This work is first and foremost a free-form emotional outlet of subsequent spiritual cleansing, not something to pick up if you're looking to be entertained. For the sake of the "music" aspect of this review, there is a basis in depressive doom accompanied by a stream of vocalized agony, with elegant yet sparse instrumental utterings in between. Yes Sir Albert does sing a bit, and if you think it's worth it to pick this up for the two tracks of his beautiful voice tugging on your heartstrings then you know what to do. But thou must take heed: you have NOT experienced the true essence of this work if you have not perused the visual art accompanying the music. It is vital to the utterly sublime experience of "Live At Colonia Dignidad".

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 7.2
Atmosphere: 9.5
Production: 10
Originality: 10
Overall: 10

Rating: 9.3 out of 10

Review by Alexi on February 20, 2005.

The Louisiana bayou has been the setting for one of America’s muddiest forms of music, sludge metal. Fusing the grooves of Black Sabbath with the herbish-aura of Kyuss, sludge metal took many forms in the early 1990’s. However, by the mid nineties, sludge metal was defined by three bands: Eyehategod, Down, and Crowbar. These three would forever be the embodiments of the sounds of the bayou.

Crowbar was last heard from four years ago when they released Sonic Excess In It’s Purest Form. Sonic Excess was not only a groundbreaking, but it also left a lot of room for growth. After listening to Sonic Excess, fans might have wondered what direction Crowbar’s next record would take. It could be a very slow album with singing, or aggressive as Dopesick by Eyehategod.

Crowbar took an evolutionary step in Life’s Blood For The Downtrodden, making an album similar to Sonic Excess but with subtle differences. The primary difference is the production. Producers Warren Riker (Down) and studio bassist Rex Brown (Pantera, Down, and Crowbar) brought out every instrument clearly, without losing the fundamental aspect of sludge metal: its muddiness. Another ideal addition to the studio lineup aside from Brown was Craig Nunenmacher (Black Label Society) on drums whose finesse and grace around the drum kit can be heard clearly on Life’s Blood for the Downtrodden.

While Life’s Blood For the Downtrodden is not the fastest Crowbar release, it is extremely versatile showing off the musical personalities of the band. Whether you are a diehard Crowbar fan, or if you are hearing Crowbar for the first time, Life’s Blood for the Downtrodden should have a permanent spot in your CD player.


Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship:7
Atmosphere:8
Production:8
Originality:7
Overall:8

Rating: 7.6 out of 10