Umbilical (Thou album)

Umbilical is the sixth studio album by American sludge metal band Thou. It was released on May 31, 2024, through Sacred Bones Records. Recording sessions took place in December 2023 at Hightower Recording in New Orleans.

Critical reception
Umbilical was met with positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 88, based on six reviews, which the website catgorized as "universal acclaim".

Harry Sword of The Guardian praised the album, saying "what results is the most maximalist and invigoratingly cathartic exercise in introspection you could possibly imagine – and one of the finest metal albums of the past decade". Olly Thomas of Kerrang! resumed: "this is simultaneously both the most pulverising and the most memorable release the band have put their name to in years". Sputnikmusic staff Sunnyvale concluded: "Umbilical unleashes a different side of the band's signature blend of bone-crunching riffs and ear-splitting screeching, but it's characteristically well-crafted and certain to satisfy music fans previously seduced by Thou's grim and imposing style". Patrick Lyons of Pitchfork stated: "Thou are a blast even when Funck is digging into esoteric philosophy over the slowest riff you've ever heard, but it's refreshing to hear them get real with themselves, jogging their music out of the enthralling but insular world they've created over the past 15-plus years". John Amen of Beats Per Minute concluded, "with Umbilical, Thou toe the doom-metal line re the inevitability of suffering/the urgent need for defiance while rummaging in an expanded playbook. The band flirt with songs and song structures, writhing, per usual, in a hellish din, Bryan Funck exuding immeasurable discontent".

Personnel
Thou
 * Andy Gibbs – guitar, production
 * Matthew Thudium – guitar, production
 * Benjamin Wells – bass, production
 * Tyler Coburn – drums, production
 * KC Stafford – guitar, vocals, production
 * Bryan Funck – vocals, production

Additional contributors
 * James Plotkin – mastering
 * James Whiten – mixing, recording
 * Rob Lovell – mixing assistance, recording assistance
 * Mercy Correll – design, layout
 * Derek Zimmer – additional vocals on "Narcissist's Prayer"
 * Michael Berdan – additional vocals on "House of Ideas"
 * Emily McWilliams – additional vocals on "The Promise" and "Panic Stricken, I Flee"