Eyehategod – Take As Needed For Pain (1993)

A pillar of the sludge world, both as a band in Eyehategod and as an album. This record is a pure classic. There is few things that can touch it for pure sleaze and alcohol / narcotic fuelled depression. Opening track “Blank” sets the pace and really, if you are only ever gonna listen to one Eyehategod song, make it this one.

The remaining tracks are filled out with such ditties as “30$ Bag”, and the charmingly-named “Sisterfucker” (parts 1 and 2). Let’s not forget “White Nigger”, which despite its offensive name, feeds and loops back heavily into the overarching themes of poverty, desperation and drug use that permeat this whole thing. Truly, this album is a disturbing listen but one that comes with a rusty pickup truck full of intense groovy riffs to drive that message home.