Trudger - Void Quest - Metal Epidemic

Trudger – Void Quest
Release Date: 29th August 2025
Label: Floodlit Recordings
Bandcamp
Genre: Hardcore Death-Sludge
FFO: Mastodon, Converge, Tomb Mold, Portrayal of Guilt, Trap Them, Gorguts.
Review By: Mark Young

Void Quest is the new release from the newly reactivated Trudger, whose last appearance was sometime back in 2015. Live, they shared stages with a who’s who of similar exponents such as Bongripper, Oathbreaker and Conan and garnered a reputation for being aggressive in that arena. As with a lot of things, life gets in the way, things change and bands just stop. It’s described as ‘they didn’t disband’ more like they just floated away. In a sludge/death metal type way.

But you aren’t here for a history lesson. What you are here for are riffs, big fat dirty riffs, raw vocals, pummelling drums – I think you get the picture. I think that the tag of Hardcore Death-Sludge possibly does them a disservice because if you read that, the first thought is maybe it’s a simple exercise, of maybe straight forward guitar work. It doesn’t give you any indication that there is an elegance at work here, of thought and of application to their craft. Don’t be deceived, it’s still heavy and thankfully there aren’t any soft starts, with Merciless Sabre kicking things off in great style. It basically sets their scene up with discord and melodic patterns that I didn’t expect (I know better now) that give it this ascendant motion, if that makes sense. I’ve mentioned elsewhere that vocals will make or break it, and Trudger have that part nailed with what I can only describe as a style of delivery that completes their sound. It’s the little touches too, there is a ‘ding’ noise on Illusory Path that cuts through, replaced later by another belting guitar line. I’ll also need to give a shout to Chris Leak on drums, because this is a lesson in how to murder your kit.

What you find is that on each song they don’t overplay it, keeping the length just long enough to batter you and then leave, whereas elsewhere bands repeat the same measures. Taking Tethered System as an example, it’s 4 minutes of assault that doesn’t back off but recognises that any longer its impact will lessen. There is a passage around 2.50 which shows that grasp of perpetual forward motion that is spot on. There is always a danger that bands can blow themselves out, exhausting creative avenues, but there is no sign of that here.

Although there are similar themes and how the songs themselves move the way they do, they come over as new and invigorating each time. Wind Cleaver uses that ‘ding’ to give it that sense of urgency with a vibe that reminds of Remission era Mastodon. Bile Elixir is where we say adios to them, at least for now, and is a solid send-off from them as they bring all the tricks and flourishes from the preceding 30 odd minutes and wrap it in one box. It’s that heady mix of riffs that drive and that use of those ascendant movements that raise the hairs on the arm, and the lead/rhythm break is just fantastic, showing restraint and technical ability. I sincerely hope it’s not another 10 plus years before we hear from them again, because this has quietly shoehorned its way into AOTY consideration.