Though often lumped in with New Orleans sludge bands like Eyehategod and Crowbar, Thou shares a more spiritual kinship with ’90s proto-grunge bands like Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden (all of whom they’ve covered extensively, both in the studio and onstage). The band’s aesthetic and political impulses reflect the obscure ’90s DIY hardcore punk found on labels like Ebullition, Vermiform, and Crimethinc. Since 2004 the band has released four full-length albums, six EPs (some bordering on full lengths), collaboration records with The Body and Emma Ruth Rundle, and enough material spread out over splits to make up another four or five LPs. The new full length Umbilical is set for a May 31, 2024 release.