Heaviness needs no introduction in the current landscape that the underground finds itself in today with the mere concept of intensity coming in all shapes and sizes from all corners of the map to show us what it can still be even decades into its magnificence that holds no reprieve for those that underestimate its power. Still, plenty come out of the woodwork to show us what can still be accomplished. Residing in the shadows are many acts that can deliver such intriguing material even if it means they resign themselves to such obscurity for as far as time can tell. Starting out as one such promising name, Shipyard has made quite the foundation for itself.

It’s no secret as to the capacity of proper sludgy doom metal to really captivate an audience in an instrumental form so long as the material in question is simply interesting, but to make it all entrancing and intoxicating is to achieve something else entirely. Only those who are intimately aware of the inner workings of the style are able to capitalize on such opportunities, and such acts are certainly few and far between. By all accounts, Shipyard demands to be considered amongst such names given what they’ve come to accomplish within just two tracks for their EP, “Swing Bridge”. Across twenty-four colossal minutes, Shipyard does no less than bring immense justice to the very concept of instrumental doom with a strong injection of sludge with the sheer power held within this pair of tracks nothing that we should underestimate. Just as capable of powerful riffs and imposing rhythms drawn out for maximum menace, “Swing Bridges” has enough dark magic in-between its notes to keep the listener more than captivated as the slow burn of Shipyard’s power is not something to be taken lightly lest it crush you under its undeniable weight. A deceptively simple creation on the surface that quickly gives way to an imposing beast whose power sends chills down the spine, Shipyard has a lot more to offer than what one might rightfully expect from the outset.

This is where the underground hurls a real curveball our direction that I can only hope the rest of the scene will take with grace. There have already been a few rumblings of this creation here and there in my experience, and I can only hope that word of mouth will continue to spread the knowledge of such a magnificent beast. For all that Shipyard brings to the table for “Swing Bridge”, it’s the raw heaviness of it all that demands the respect of those who find themselves before such a creation.

LISTEN to “Swing Bridge” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Shipyard on Facebook here.