Shallov. - Coexist, Refrain (2023)
by Flork
“Shallov. is the only band in Slovakia that makes us cry.” -bandcamp.com
If you do get a chance to listen to Shallov, the above quote may not be far from the truth. The trio from Slovakia dives deep into the depths of emotional purgatory with their latest 2-track EP, which is aptly named after the two compositions. Both songs are full of atmospheric guitars and vocals, yet they evoke the dark and spiritual beauty of the soul and its relation to the world and the universe as a whole, while all the time delivering a powerful and evocative blend of post-punk and ambient sounds.
Coexist kicks off with subtle touches of the guitar and keyboards. It sounds very much like an awakening of sorts, as it builds up suspenseful and foreboding feelings of doom and uncertainty. The nearly 10-minute track deals with the very creation of a human existence, particularly touching on the themes of unconditional and self-love, as well as the lack of such love in many of us. This song is so amazing because it alternates between a stronger, emotional side with lighter periods to catch one’s breath and process the emotions and ideas expressed. The atmosphere created by the layers of instrumentation and vocals is so intense at times, that it has a palpable sense of urgency and importance resonating all throughout the track. I listen to it a second time and I am left with a strong feeling of provoked thought, with its introspective passages leaving a lingering impact in my head:
Who would you become if love was unconditional? Would you have to pick sides if you didn't feel left under? Would you feel alive if you gave up on your anger? Would you even up if the score was in your favour? Would you need a house if we all could live together? Would you sacrifice all you have If you believed it doesn't belong to you?
Refrain has a similar effect on me. It too begins with an eerie, folklorish mixture of heavy foreshadowing by its light picking of the guitars. It picks up speed and weight along the way and evokes a lot of imagery of a purgatory between light and darkness. And like Coexist, there is so much ideology expressed in its lyrics, it keeps in tune with the „Nothing is apolitical“ theme of the Ep. Here is a note taken from the YouTube video of this song:
We're not a community that acts right or wrong, our intentions are determined by an ideology which pretends not to exist - our relations are relations of masters and slaves, of domination and exploitation. We are a society bound by these features and even though we refuse to admit it, the world presented to us is only a legend we're striving to keep alive at all costs while believing that there is no alternative.
Musically, both songs are well-crafted and pleasant to listen to. The three members are all exceptionally talented and play their instruments skillfully. Coexist, Refrain is about 21 minutes long and both tracks have amazing video accompaniment you can find on YouTube. Definitely one of the most interesting groups to come out of Slovakia in a long time, although they have been releasing music since 2014, so check out some their previous stuff. Yet Coexist, Refrain is definitely the one release that many of us need to hear these days. And it very well might make you cry.
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