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Make no mistake: the massively influential merchants of sludge never went away. But as Crowbar s 25th year of existence dawns and their tenth full length album is unleashed upon the world, co founder, frontman and riff-making warhorse Kirk Windstein is determined to give the band he unapologetically calls his baby the total dedication it demands. The unrestrained push and relentless concentration surrounding Symmetry in Black is music to the ears - figuratively and literally for new adherents and the legion of underground fans and fellow musicians who swore allegiance to Crowbar long ago. Symmetry in Black is the perfect album to arrive in the number ten slot of the Crowbar catalog, a penultimate achievement embodying the early sloth of doom touchstone Obedience Thru Suffering (1991), the moody dissonance of modern classic Odd Fellows Rest (1998) and the crisp thunder of the album s eOne Metal predecessor, Sever the Wicked Hand (2011), with nuggets of Crowbar s storied history sprinkled throughout. The crushing signature sound of Crowbar is at its peak on Symmetry in Black, the band s most diverse yet cohesive release. It was coproduced with fellow New Orleans resident Duane Simoneaux, who worked on Sever the Wicked Hand and mixed by Josh Wilbur, whose diverse credits include work with Lamb Of God, Gojira and Killer Be Killed. Windstein explains: We needed to move our sound forward but at the same time, make sure everything stayed 100% true to who and what we are. The album is heavy, dark and killer. There s everything we are on here. It s just Crowbar 2014. We re really proud and excited. And where we stand with Crowbar right now, we can only go up.