Essential Album of the Month: Black Breath – Heavy Breathing
In our new monthly series, we highlight one essential album that has left a lasting mark on the world of alternative music. These are the records that embody the raw spirit of rebellion, darkness, and individuality that Sleep Terror Co. thrives on. For April, we’re diving headfirst into the blistering world of hardcore-tinged metal with a band that perfectly bridges punk energy and death ‘n’ roll grit: Black Breath.
Who Is Black Breath?
Formed in the Pacific Northwest in the late 2000s, Black Breath erupted out of the underground with a vicious blend of crust punk, hardcore, and Swedish-style death metal. Channeling the unrelenting aggression of bands like Discharge, Entombed, and Slayer, they quickly became a staple of the American underground metal scene. Their sound is dirty, dark, and primal—exactly the kind of sonic chaos that fuels tattoo shops, DIY basements, and late-night drives.
About the Album: Heavy Breathing
Released in 2010 through Southern Lord Records, Heavy Breathing is Black Breath’s full-length debut, and it hits like a steel-toed boot to the teeth. The record opens with the roaring “Black Sin (Spit on the Cross)” and never lets up, pulling listeners into a relentless storm of d-beat drums, HM-2 chainsaw guitar tone, and growling, feral vocals. From the sinister melodies of “Children of the Horn” to the unhinged energy of “I Am Beyond,” every track oozes attitude and menace.
Heavy Breathing stands out not just for its aggression but for its tight musicianship and ability to balance rawness with precision. It’s the kind of album that makes you want to throw fists and light candles at the same time.
Black Breath’s Heavy Breathing is a masterclass in genre fusion. A blistering cocktail of hardcore crossover and metal that laid the groundwork for countless bands in the 2010s and beyond. It’s an album that reminds us that darkness in music doesn’t have to be polished—it can be dirty, chaotic, and wildly alive.
For fans of Entombed, Trap Them, Power Trip, End, and Nails