From the rainy, gray corners of Portland, Oregon, a new monster crawls out of the sludge. Chaos and Catastrophes, the first full-length from Ravine, doesn’t bother with pleasantries – it hits you fast and leaves your head ringing like you just got flattened by a truck. This record smells like bourbon, burnt rubber, and wet dirt, and it wears that stink proudly.
Ravine’s group of seasoned players knows how to hit hard and make it feel alive. There’s swagger in the riffs, a nasty little smirk in the grooves, and the twin guitars of Nico Schmutz and Justin Morgan weave in and out like they’re sparring. Sometimes it’s sad, sometimes it’s vicious, often both at once.
Paul Dudziak’s vocals are rough, hoarse, soaked in bourbon and frustration, perfectly matching the mood. Matt Amott pounds the drums with authority, and Dylan Wills’ bass is thick and sticky, holding everything down. The production from Rob Wrong is raw enough to feel lived-in; no one tidied this up, and that’s exactly what it needs.
Fans of Down, Eyehategod, or Corrosion of Conformity will recognize the feel, but Ravine doesn’t copy – they twist those influences into something messy and their own. The songs flow together like a muddy river, full of surprises, with enough menace to make anyone sit up and pay attention.
Chaos and Catastrophes isn’t casual listening. It’s the kind of record you let crawl under your skin and stick there. Portland’s foggy streets have birthed something dangerous, and Ravine is just getting warmed up.
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Released by Ripple Music on June 20th, 2025
