Slať - Demo (2021)
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Sludge is one of those versatile genres that spices up other genres of metal. I mean, it kicks everything up a notch and Slať has fully mastered this craft.
The foursome from Brno rock out heavily on their 4-track Ep called Demo, which may also be a demo CD in a way, but with high potential. All four songs are original in creation and pack a heavy punch with raw and gritty vocals and hypnotic rhythms that are „otherworldly“ in the sense that the listener. This is evident from the opening track Ve jménu slabosti ducha where the almost bluesy, monolythic riffs of the guitar and bass pulse deeply alongside the beats of the drums. In fact, as I listen to all the tracks, I am captivated by the singer’s vocals as she levels-up the atmospheric tone of each composition. I’m reminded a bit of the American band Windhand or the Southern metal band Acid Bath in terms of the heavy rhythms of the guitars, yet it‘s the vocals that set this band apart from them. They are neither screechy nor clean, but instead, full of depth and rage that lead the tracks away to the more experimental edges of death or doom metal. And this is why Slať’s music is not typical stoner metal that has been heightened by cranked-up distortion. Instead rather, it‘s the addition of those „otherwordly“ elements that complement the rhythmic grooves of the guitar, which is achieved by the edge and rawness of the singer’s vocals.
If you listen on, you will hear what I mean, especially on the final track Cesta domu dlouhá je. This track may be the best one, yet the other three still give it a run for the money. Smolný den and Troud are both first class examples of how the band has mastered the art of sludge metal, especially by keeping each track around 3-4 minutes. So, you can imagine the potential of future albums by these newly-formed sludgers.
The Ep also comes with a cool album cover of a dark forest in a purple and black tinge that discreetly shelters the anger and fury of the music. So far, there is no price for the Ep, you suggest it yourself, and it can be either downloaded or streamed from the bandcamp.com website. Definitely worth a listen to!
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