Thinning The Herd – “Sludge” [SoundCloud Song Stream]

The Skinny: Rick Cimato, drummer for NYC stoner metal outfit Thinning The Herd and previously of Locked In A Vacancy, was tragically killed over the holidays in a car crash. Cimato was on his way home from visiting relatives in Maine, when the head-on collision took place in Connecticut. Cimato’s distraught bandmates have set up a memorial for their fallen brother, set to take place this Sunday, January 6th at The Grand Victory [245 Grand St., Brooklyn] at 6pm. The memorial will be hosted by members of Gods Green Earth, Locked in a Vacancy, Nassau Chainsaw, Hickory Hawkins and of course the remaining members of Thinning The Herd.

This special gathering will also serve as the public’s first listen to the newly-completed Thinning The Herd album Freedom From The Known. The trio recorded the album with acclaimed producer Steve Albini over the Summer, and have just wrapped up the mastering on the album. Previously slated for a late 2012 release, the album will now be released on February 5th via Saint Marks Records. Thinning The Herd this week posted the third track from Freedom From The Known via their Soundcloud page. Check out the soulful thunder of “Sludge” below.