Formed as a fun project by Guitarist, Bob Balch (Fu Manchu), Bassist, Scott Reeder (Kyuss), drummer, Esben Willems (Monolord), and vocalist Amy Barrysmith (Year of the Cobra) to slow down Slayer tracks to a snails pace, hence the name Slower. The first album was equally enjoyable and original in its approach to covers. An album one would pull out occasionally and play. What was not planned by the band and not expected by the audience was a second album.
The line up now solidified around Balch, Willems, and Barrysmith doubling on vocal and bass duties step up and release their second album Rage and Ruin. Consisting of four original songs and two extended slayer covers. Starting with their own composition "Hellfire" it stays true to the lyrical themes of slayer but the slowed down riff is dirty as hell. The crystal-clear vocals are ethereal and give the heaviness a dreamlike atmosphere.
The first cover "Chemical Warfare" is stretched out for almost 11 minutes and grinds along with all the menace one can expect from Slayer riffs. The doubled tracked vocals balance the menace, making this slayer classic sound completely reborn. I have written previously on my opinion of covering songs. I argued the only approach that merited any kind of respect is to deconstruct and rebuild a cover song. Slower had done this previously with their debut and done it very well indeed. However, nothing prepared me for the excellence that they conjured on "Chemical Warfare" it is exceptional.
This is followed by two of their own tracks "Gates of Hell" and "Sins of the Dead" follow and do not dip in terms of quality.The double tracked vocals might not work for every listener but personally it feels a perfect fit. The melody of the vocals mixed with the slayer tone guitar sounds like classic doom. The band has groove and the heaviness is on the right side of tight.
Another Slayer classic covers. "Haunting the Chapel" by this stage Slower have this down to a fine art and it's a pleasure to hear this early Slayer track resemble something closer to Candlemas or Saint Vitus style. Again, extended well beyond Slayers original track length it allows the band to bleed every drop of dread from the lyrics. Willems in particular reshapes Dave Lombardo's drum patterns into a collapsing wall of sound than a relentless battering ram.
Rounding out the album with the title track "Rage and Ruin" a eastern circular riff draws you into the songs heart of darkness. The repetition of the musical groove edges forwards toward an unexpected piano led breakdown that shines a light on the quality of the vocals before the drums and guitar smash back in like a hammer. It's a great finale to the album
So a fun project that has evolved into something more serious. You might investigate out of curiosity of how they approached the Slayer material but if you will stay to experience the other four songs you won't be disappointed. Overall, a really, enjoyable album
Maybe time to phase out the covers completely and deliver an albums worth of original songs. If they match the quality of the ones presented here Slower could be a band to watch.
-Bobo Coen
