TOOMS – Karst
Release Date: 29th May 2026
Label: Road to Masochist
Bandcamp
Genre: Progressive Sludge
FFO: Mastodon, Inter Arma, Baroness, Kylesa.
Review By: Paul Cairney
Chances are, you may only be merely aware of Irish sludge trio, Tooms, as they have hardly been prolific since releasing their debut album some 6 years ago. An EP and a live album (the juice of the band to release a live album after only 1 full length must be admired) have filled the intervening years and now, they are back. Karst is their 2nd album, and it is full of sludge-filled goodness.
The band have subtly refined their sound, with a somewhat heavier approach and a more robust sounding production. This can perhaps be attributed, in part, to the mastering conducted by Chris Fielding – the mastering man behind Metal Epidemic favourites, Conan – who has crafted the sound to genuine heavy levels.
Karst opens with ‘Blood Rust – of Cudgel and Quill’, and it is a truly filthy piece of brilliance. Aggressive, but supremely listenable, it tells you that our Irish lads are not messing about. It is ferocious, but has enough hooks in it to capture your imagination. A great start.
The following track, ‘Lowlander’, sees the trio dip their toes into a more progressive sludge approach. Think Mastodon but, well, heavier! ‘Towers of Silence’ starts slowly before expanding to squeeze your head in a vice. Vocally, guitarist/vocalist Alex Hölzinger slaps your backside on this one. In fact, he reddens your bottom on a regular basis on Karst. It is a strong vocal performance throughout.
The others must be mentioned to Kieran Grace controls each track on drums and there are a few bass runs from Anto Donnellan that reach out and throttle you. The album, as you would expect from a trio, is tight and has no real low-points to make your mind wander.
As the album screams towards the close, the final track approaches, and ‘Physics Beyond the Standard Model’ lurches into view. A sprawling, dirty, grimy, heavy, wonderful closing opus encapsulates everything that is good about Karst. It is, perhaps, Tooms’ finest hour, or 11 minutes if we are being pedantic.
If you want to know what the album is about – listen to the closing track. Its magnificence will draw you into an incredibly rewarding album, an album that should put Tooms on the map.
(4 / 5)
