Set the Dial
| Set the Dial | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | June 2011 | |||
| Studios | Soundhouse Studios Seattle, Washington | |||
| Genres | ||||
| Length | 34:01 | |||
| Label | Relapse Records | |||
| Producer | Jack Endino | |||
| Black Tusk chronology | ||||
| ||||
Set the Dial is the third studio album from American sludge metal band Black Tusk. The album was released in 2011 by Relapse Records.[1]
Background
[edit]Set the Dial was recorded at Soundhouse Studios in Seattle, Washington with producer Jack Endino.[2][3] The album blends elements of sludge metal, doom metal, and hardcore punk, with shouted vocals by all three band members.[1] When asked how the album differs from their previous releases, drummer James May said, "It's a little less thrashy, a little slower and a little heavier... We would describe this one as more of a heavy rock album."[4] Ahead of the Set the Dial's release, the band shared a demo recording of the song "Ender of All".[2] It was later included on the Deluxe Edition of the album, along with three live tracks that were recorded in 2004.[5]
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Dead Rhetoric | 7.5/10[6] |
| Exclaim! | Positive[4] |
| The Heavy Chronicles |   [7] |
| Metal Injection | 7/10[8] |
| Metalitalia.com | 7.0/10[9] |
| Metal Kaoz | 7/10[10] |
| MetalReviews.com | 80/100[11] |
| Punknews.org |  [12] |
| Sea of Tranquility | [13] |
| The Sleeping Shaman | Positive[14] |
| SonicAbuse | Positive[15] |
| Stereogum | Positive[16] |
| Trebuchet Magazine | 8/10[17] |
Stereogum named Set the Dial its "Album of the Week".[16] In a review for The Sleeping Shaman, Mark Hunt-Bryden praised Black Tusk's "raw enthusiasm", saying "the album is a joy from start to finish."[14] Phil of SonicAbuse called Set the Dial "arguably a flawless album, a shining gem in Black Tusk’s swamp-muck encrusted crow..." He complimented its "searing riffs, intelligent lyrics and memorable tunes", asserting that "Black Tusk may well have just unleashed a genre benchmark."[15] Metal Injection gave the album a 7 out of 10 and said, "No one will ever mistake Set the Dial for a forward-thinking masterpiece, but in a market that is arguably the most glutted in all of American heavy metal (sludge/doom) it certainly doesn't hurt to have an alternative."[8] Punknews.org's Joe Pelone said the album "generally still finds Black Tusk sticking to its strengths. These tunes are sludgy rockers with throaty vocals and punishing rhythms. It's straightforward and fun all the way."[12]
Track listing
[edit]All songs were written by Black Tusk.[18]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Brewing the Storm" | 1:56 |
| 2. | "Bring Me Darkness" | 3:05 |
| 3. | "Ender of All" | 4:40 |
| 4. | "Mass Devotion" | 2:39 |
| 5. | "Carved in Stone" | 3:36 |
| 6. | "Set the Dial to Your Doom" | 2:58 |
| 7. | "Resistor" | 4:27 |
| 8. | "This Time Is Divine" | 2:56 |
| 9. | "Growing Horns" | 3:27 |
| 10. | "Crossroads and Thunder" | 4:21 |
| Total length: | 34:01 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 11. | "Full Circle" (Live) | 3:21 |
| 12. | "Facedriver" (Live) | 2:04 |
| 13. | "Confined to Struggle" (Live) | 4:17 |
| 14. | "Ender of All" (Demo) | 4:40 |
Personnel
[edit]Set the Dial personnel adapted from liner notes.[3]
- Black Tusk
- Andrew Fidler – guitar, vocals
- Jonathan Athon – bass, vocals
- James May – drums, vocals
- Production
- Jack Endino – producer, engineering
- Alan Douches – mastering
- John Dyer Baizley – cover art
- Orion Landau – design
References
[edit]- 1 2 Josh Hart (October 26, 2011). "Interview: Black Tusk Talk About Their New Album, 'Set the Dial'". Guitar World. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "BLACK TUSK Post Demo Track From Set The Dial". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. August 1, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Set the Dial (Media notes). Black Tusk. Relapse Records. 2011. CD liner notes. RR 7174.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - 1 2 Greg Pratt (October 23, 2011). "Black Tusk Taste the Sin". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Set the Dial (Deluxe Version)". Apple Music. October 25, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ David E. Gehlke (March 23, 2013). "Black Tusk – Set the Dial (Relapse Records)". deadrhetoric.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Beeho (October 26, 2011). "BLACK TUSK "Set The Dial" (Relapse Records 2011)". theheavychronicles.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 "CD Review: BLACK TUSK Set the Dial". Metal Injection. October 10, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Luca Filisetti (October 20, 2011). "BLACK TUSK – Set The Dial". metalitalia.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Dimitris Kontogeorgakos (October 27, 2011). "BLACK TUSK – Set The Dial". metalkaoz.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Khelek (March 5, 2012). "Reviews / Black Tusk / Set The Dial". metalreviews.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Joe Pelone (October 27, 2011). "Black Tusk Set the Dial (2011)". Punknews.org. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ Kim Jensen (October 30, 2011). "Black Tusk: Set the Dial". seaoftranquility.org. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Mark Hunt-Bryden (January 10, 2012). "Black Tusk 'Set The Dial' CD/LP/DD 2011". thesleepingshaman.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Phil (November 13, 2011). "Black Tusk – 'Set The Dial' Album Review". sonicabuse.com. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- 1 2 Tom Breihan (October 25, 2011). "Album Of The Week: Black Tusk Set The Dial". Stereogum. Archived from the original on October 28, 2021. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Black Tusk: Set the Dial". trebuchet-magazine.com. November 27, 2011. Retrieved August 18, 2026.
- ↑ "Set the Dial (Deluxe Version)". music.apple.com. May 17, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Set the Dial (Deluxe Edition) at Bandcamp (streamed copy where licensed)
- Set the Dial at Discogs (list of releases)
