Totally Slow
The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)
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 … Read more
Steamachine
City of Death
Records Workshop (2023)
City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over … Read more
Faulty Cognitions
Somehow, We Are Here
Cercle Social Records (2024)
The opening track on Somehow, We Are Here is a statement. Yes, Faulty Cognitions is a punk band with members of Low Culture, Shang-A-Lang, Nocturnal … Read more
