Initially an all-star tribute to Slayer, SLOWER released their debut album "Slower" (also featuring Laura Pleasants of Kylesa, Scott Reeder of Fireball Ministry and Peder Bergstrand of Lowrider) in the winter of 2024, which was hailed as "a real headspinner of an album” by Metal Hammer and “an aural beating of a whole different kind” by Metal Injection.
Hot on the heels of this success, the now trio of Bob Balch (Fu Manchu) on guitar, Amy Tung Barrysmith (Year of the Cobra) on bass and vocals and Esben Willems (Monolord) on drums is ready to release their awaited sophomore album "Rage and Ruin" on Heavy Psych Sounds. The album comprises two Slayer covers ("Chemical Warfare" and "Haunting The Chapel") and four original creations, all dark, crushing and haunting doom crowned by Amy Tung-Barrysmith’s alluring vocals.
Stream Slower's brand new single "Hellfire"
Amy Tung Barrysmith adds: "When we started writing originals, I wanted to try to keep to the same themes that Slayer wrote about. There are a lot of songs about war in Slayer’s songs and when I heard the Hellfire riff, the first image that came to mind was just this bright red fire raining down from the heavens. With all of the upheaval in the world today, it seemed like a fitting topic. What makes this song slightly unique, though, is that I came up with the title, Hellfire, first from that initial image I had in my head. Writing the lyrics after that was easy."
SLOWER "Rage and Ruin" - Out November 1st on Heavy Psych Sounds - International preorder
.jpg)
1. Hellfire
2. Chemical Warfare (Slayer cover)
3. Gates Of Hell
4. Sins Of The Dead
5. Haunting The Chapel (Slayer cover)
6. Rage And Ruin
About the origins of SLOWER, guitarist and project initiator Bob Balch explains: “The idea for the Slower project started around four years ago. I was teaching a student how to play “South Of Heaven” by Slayer but she was a beginner so we slowed it down. I thought that sounded cool so I tuned down to B standard and tried it. I added some drums and thought “someone in the doom community should do this and name it Slower.”
A few years later I befriended Steven “Thee Slayer Hippy” Hanford, best known for his work as the drummer in the influential Oregon punk band Poison Idea. He was backstage at a Fu Manchu show. Oddly enough I was wearing a Poison Idea shirt and he told me that my shirt sucks. I asked who he was and why he was in our backstage. He told me and I felt stupid. We started drinking whiskey and talking about music. We stayed in touch over the next year or so and during Covid I told him about my Slower idea. He asked me to send him tracks. I waited too long because the day I sent the tracks he passed away. Totally tragic. I’m glad I got to know him even for a few years. He was a monster musician with a giant heart. He will be greatly missed.
I shelved the project for a while after that. One day Esben from Monolord posted about musical collaborations. I love Monolord so I thought what the hell. I sent him some tracks and he killed it on drums. So I sent more. Then more. Shortly after that, we started reaching out to other musicians to get them involved. That’s how we ended up with this lineup. Everyone that contributed completely knocked it out of the park and I can’t thank them enough.
This project has been a long time coming and I’m beyond stoked on how it turned out. Without all of the players involved, Steven Hanford and my baritone Reverend guitar it wouldn’t have happened. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope you dig it. Look out for shows because they will happen!”
SLOWER is:
2. Chemical Warfare (Slayer cover)
3. Gates Of Hell
4. Sins Of The Dead
5. Haunting The Chapel (Slayer cover)
6. Rage And Ruin
About the origins of SLOWER, guitarist and project initiator Bob Balch explains: “The idea for the Slower project started around four years ago. I was teaching a student how to play “South Of Heaven” by Slayer but she was a beginner so we slowed it down. I thought that sounded cool so I tuned down to B standard and tried it. I added some drums and thought “someone in the doom community should do this and name it Slower.”
A few years later I befriended Steven “Thee Slayer Hippy” Hanford, best known for his work as the drummer in the influential Oregon punk band Poison Idea. He was backstage at a Fu Manchu show. Oddly enough I was wearing a Poison Idea shirt and he told me that my shirt sucks. I asked who he was and why he was in our backstage. He told me and I felt stupid. We started drinking whiskey and talking about music. We stayed in touch over the next year or so and during Covid I told him about my Slower idea. He asked me to send him tracks. I waited too long because the day I sent the tracks he passed away. Totally tragic. I’m glad I got to know him even for a few years. He was a monster musician with a giant heart. He will be greatly missed.
I shelved the project for a while after that. One day Esben from Monolord posted about musical collaborations. I love Monolord so I thought what the hell. I sent him some tracks and he killed it on drums. So I sent more. Then more. Shortly after that, we started reaching out to other musicians to get them involved. That’s how we ended up with this lineup. Everyone that contributed completely knocked it out of the park and I can’t thank them enough.
This project has been a long time coming and I’m beyond stoked on how it turned out. Without all of the players involved, Steven Hanford and my baritone Reverend guitar it wouldn’t have happened. Thanks to everyone involved and I hope you dig it. Look out for shows because they will happen!”
SLOWER is:
Esben Willems - drums, percussions
Amy Tung Barrysmith - vocals, bass, piano
Bob Balch - guitars
SLOWER links
Amy Tung Barrysmith - vocals, bass, piano
Bob Balch - guitars
SLOWER links
Thanks to Purple Sage PR for all of the details.
