Cough Sign to Relapse Records, Prepare to Unleash ‘Ritual Abuse’

This writer is incredibly excited to see that Richmond, Va.'s heaviest psychedelic doom lords, Cough, have announced a new partnership with Relapse Records to unleash the band's next negative opus, entitled 'Ritual Abuse.' Their first two releases (2007's 'The Kingdom' EP and 2008's 'Sigillum Luciferi' LP) were unleashed by Forcefield Records, and those of us that walk the doomed path have been anxiously awaiting fresh blood from these criminally talented troublemakers.

This time around, Cough enlisted the considerable talents of metal mercenary Sanford Parker to act as midwife for the undoubtedly long, hard, bloody birth of 'Ritual Abuse.' Slated for a fall 2010 release, the band's Relapse debut is already doomed to greatness. As the band themselves said, "'Ritual Abuse' is the result of all the s--- and suffering we put ourselves through to continue to write this music. Hopefully you all feel as miserable listening to it as we did creating it."

What do they sound like? Think Electric Wizard, Cathedral, Orange Goblin, Corruputed, Eyehategod and, of course, Black Sabbath -- throw 'em all together, toss in some Orange amps and take their drugs away. The nihilistic feedback drones, crushingly heavy, lurching riffs and distorted Delta blues that result are all Cough. As for the name? Listen to the beginning of 'Sweet Leaf,' and it'll make a lot more sense.

Cough recently abused Philadelphia's M Room amongst other East Coast venues with Masssachusetts' Elder (think Kyuss on downers, but a million times more awesome) and have been rolling up towards Rhode Island to join crusted-over, d-beat legends World Burns to Death for a stop on the latter's reunion tour before heading back down South to regroup and plot more aural destruction. Metal world, prepare to meet thy doom!