Nxmad - Feral

When Feral dropped via APF Records in May 2018, Nomad made it clear they were here to do more than just add to the sludge/doom tides in the UK — this was a record of force, mood and intention. From Manchester’s underground roots (Nomad had been playing since around 2013, with earlier EPs and splits) this was their full-length arrival: seven tracks, 42+ minutes of pounding riffs, raw vocals, and atmosphere thick enough to choke.

Opening with Curse Of The Sun, you’re immediately thrown in: slow, crushing grooves, a hum of feedback, drums mounting tension before it all descends. There’s aggression, yes — but there’s also craft. Tracks like Swarm and Culture Of Ruin show Nomad aren’t just here to pulverize: there are twists of melody, moments of lead guitar that recall the early sludge metal greats, dynamics that give weight and contrast to their heaviness. The title-track Feral and closing Shallow Fate both linger with a kind of grim beauty despite the noise.

Vocals by Drian Nash move between rough-shout and harsher edges, matching the shifting intensity of the music; Lewis Atkinson’s guitar tone leans into the thick, sludgy tradition while not letting the material stagnate. Bass and drums (John Carberry and Hayley McIntyre) anchor everything, giving the grooves space to settle and the heavier parts room to collapse. The songwriting shows restraint where needed, thunder when demanded.

Recorded, mixed, produced and mastered by Simeon Ogden at The Stoller Hall & Wellington House in Manchester (Dec 2017–Jan 2018), Feral feels raw but intentional — powerful, but measured. Artwork by No Master Studio complements that energy, wrapping the album in visuals that feel as much part of the mood as the music.

Feral isn’t just Nomad’s first full-length; it’s their claim. It stakes out their place among the heavy hitters, showing that they can honour the sludge/doom tradition while pushing it forward. It’s a dark, powerful, brutal ride — one that leaves its mark long after the last riff fades.

Track listing:

1 - Curse Of The Sun
2 - Feral
3 - Swarm
4 - The War Is Never Over
5 - Culture Of Ruin
6 - Feed
7 - Shallow Fate

Nomad is:
Drian Nash - Vocals
Lewis Atkinson - Guitars
John Carberry - Bass
Hayley McIntyre - Drums

Recorded at The Stoller Hall and Wellington House, Manchester Dec 2017 / Jan 2018.
Recorded, mixed, produced and mastered by Simeon Ogden.
Artwork by No Master Studio.