I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs are guitar-driven with heavy beats and sung vocals that are make a good soundtrack for the vert ramp. There’s a DIY vein that pulses and defines these songs, making them feel not just urgent, but also personal and intimate. And then you get the sudden drops into surf rock.
While I want to call the surf elements on this record interludes, they’re so prevalent that’s misleading. It’s part of the band and not just a pacing thing. I’m not doing the math, but it feels like a 2-to-1 melodic punk-to-surf ratio and it works. Songs like “Kookslam,” “Piston Whipped,” and “Motorshed” are great examples of Totally Slow at their heavy best. The rhythm section is relentless while the guitar sets a melody and the vocals grab you and throw you into the pit. The punk songs are hook driven. Then the surf sounds are a potent changeup, maintaining the energy and mood, sometimes helping to ride the wave and, at others, crashing you hard against the rocks. “Corrupted” is half surf, half highway drifter rock. In the final track, “F Is For Genius,” you get those surf guitar tones but blended into the band’s melodic hardcore seamlessly. It feels both ominous and energetic, a perfect building of tension which they ultimately let loose.
Next time the darkness intercepts your day to day, try reaching for this record. It will set things right.
