



Sludge music, the marriage of hardcore punk and doom metal, was pioneered in the early nineties by such bands as NEGATIVE REACTION (Long Island, NY, now Central West Virginia), EYEHATEGOD (New Orleans), and GRIEF (Massachusetts). While the former was just as influential as the other two and started earlier than both, they never received much attention. Most people also don't know that they're responsible for the genre's title, which was coined by a review in Maximum Rock'n Roll, who completely trashed them and said that it was "like listening to sludge". NEGATIVE REACTION decided to take that and run with it, turning it into a badge of honor.





Due to the influence of early New York hardcore punk bands on their sound, NEGATIVE REACTION could best be described as AGNOSTIC FRONT meets the MELVINS. But their sound isn't limited to that - their influences also include BLACK SABBATH on Vol. 4, BIOHAZARD's demo (which is basically slowed-down NYHC), WINTER (NY), HAWKWIND, THE CRUMBSUCKERS. Lyrically, the biggest influences are Star Wars, science fiction, depression, and did I mention Star Wars? I've never met a bigger Star Wars fan than founder Ken-E-Bones (lead vocalist, guitar, and only founding member still in the band), which probably explains why he's covered in Star Wars tattoos. Something else that you may find surprising is the fact that they don't smoke weed. Ken-E-Bones has never had an interest in it and it actually came as a surprise to him when he found out that a lot of people who smoke left-handed cigarettes are fans. He's not straightedge, by any means, but marijuana is just not something he's ever been into. Go figure!!!









Something that I've been struggling with since I was a child is severe stomach pain every morning that pretty much wipes me out for an hour or two, sometimes longer. Full-body aches, cramping, light-headedness, nausea, dizziness... my face looks completely flushed during it. Now in my late thirties, I've gotten used to the fact that it's just a normal part of my everyday life. I've looked around for something to distract myself with when I'm going through it, but it wasn't until earlier this year that i finally did. What was it? This little ditty...