Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form

Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form is the seventh studio album by American sludge metal band Crowbar. It was released on August 21, 2001.^[1] It is the last album to feature guitarist Sammy Duet, and the first and only album to feature bassist Jeff Okoneski and ex-Machine Head drummer Tony Costanza.

Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form
Studio album by Crowbar
Released	August 21, 2001
Genre	Sludge metal
Length	45:31
Label	Spitfire
Producer	Dave Fortman
Crowbar chronology
Equilibrium (2000) Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form (2001) Lifesblood for the Downtrodden (2005)

Songs such as "The Lasting Dose" and "To Build a Mountain" have become mandatory staples on Crowbar's live setlists.^[2]

The front cover is of St. Anthony's Garden behind St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Sputnikmusic	[4]
BW&BK	[5]

Sonic Excess in Its Purest Form has received critical acclaim. Robert Davis of Sputnikmusic gave the album a 4.5 out of 5 stars, noting "instrumentally the band has never sounded fresher or more alive" and "each and every song on 'Sonic excess…' is charged with more melancholy and beautiful solemnity than ever before".^[4] Pete Pardo of Sea of Tranquility gave the album 5 out of 5 stars, saying "this album shows that simply Crowbar are masters of what they do...one of the finest releases within its genre."^[6] German website metal.de named it the best metal album of 2001.^[7]

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"The Lasting Dose"	4:12
2.	"To Build a Mountain"	3:58
3.	"Thru the Ashes (I've Watched You Burn)"	4:43
4.	"Awakening"	3:36
5.	"Repulsive in Its Splendid Beauty"	3:58
6.	"Counting Daze"	3:54
7.	"In Times of Sorrow" (instrumental)	2:38
8.	"It Pours from Me"	5:05
9.	"Suffering Brings Wisdom"	5:27
10.	"Failure to Delay Gratification"	3:07
11.	"Empty Room"	4:52
Total length:		45:31

Personnel

• Kirk Windstein – vocals, guitar
• Sammy Pierre Duet – guitar
• Jeff "Okie" Okoneski – bass
• Tony Costanza – drums