On February 16th, “Beautiful Death” by Slaves is being released via SBG Records, and we have found an early candidate for record of the year in any genre.
Out of Sacramento, California, Slaves is composed of Colin Vieira, Weston Richmond, and the incomparable voice of Jonny Craig. They have gone through lineup changes and they have written an album that could change the game in the world of metal, rock, and all of its subgenres.
The album starts with their single “I’d Rather See Your Star Explode”, and my question for my readers is have you had that moment where you don’t know what to expect, you press the play button, and your jaw hits the floor from when the first note kicks in? This happens to me RARELY, and let me tell you right now, that feeling hit in most of the songs on this record. The guitar tone is impeccable, and the rhythm section sounds seamless and flawless, and Jonny Craig, with his vocals, has a way of breaking hearts, and piecing the hearts back together as he has a way of getting the listener to empathize with the pain and anguish that he’s going through. To get what I’m comprehending, check out the video below!
Slaves showcases their diversity and versatility throughout this record. Case in point, Jonny is able to lay down smooth as silk R&B vocals, hip-hop vocals in a verse, and a clean alternative rock voice, while the guitars and rhythm section swoon and sway throughout the song “Patience Is The Virtue”. It also shows Slaves that they are having a more positive tinge in the lyrics about how we need to wait for the right moment and that vibe that “the best is yet to come” to whatever you’re going through. With this, Slaves does a tremendous job of conveying the message to be universally relatable. I did enjoy the house/trance vibe at the outro of the song.
This versatility is the consistent theme in the track “Petty Trapped”. This song showcases that Slaves has mastered the craft of creating the midtempo song. The same is the case with the song “Deadly Conversations”. The lyrics are packed with emotion and allow us to examine the soul of Jonny Craig. The ambiance incorporated with the rhythm section and the guitar in “Deadly Conversations” intertwine to really provide an incredible backdrop. The guitar causes the listener to close their eyes in contemplation. In “The Pact”, it is a sledgehammer to the gut that brings the album to a resounding close. When he talks about his father abandoning him, it is gut wrenching but he provides hope through “The Pact”.
Madness To Creation cannot believe what they heard from Slaves in “Beautiful Death”. The album takes you on a whirlwind of emotions, a rollercoaster of arrangements, and the lyrics tug, tear, and absolutely rip the heartstrings apart leaving it a splattered mess on the floor in an incredibly beautiful way. Slaves is here to remind you that being broken and vulnerable is also a beautiful feeling. This album is 10 out of 10 stars!
Here is the track listing below:
- I’d Rather See Your Star Explode
- Patience Is The Virtue
- True Colors
- Let This Haunt You
- Petty Trappin
- I Know A Lot Of Artists
- Deadly Conversations
- Back To The Roots
- Warning From My Demons
- The Pact
Slaves will be touring with Ghost Town, Dayshell, and Kyle Lucas to celebrate the release of “Beautiful Death”. Check out the tour dates below!
Friday, February 16th- The Prophet Bar in Dallas, Texas
Saturday, February 17th- Paper Tiger in San Antonio, Texas
Sunday, February 18th- Satellite Bar in Houston, Texas
Monday, February 19th- Thirsty Hippo in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Tuesday, February 20th- Crowbar in Tampa, Florida
Wednesday, February 21st- O’Malley’s in Margate, Florida
Thursday, February 22nd- Soundbar in Orlando, Florida
Friday, February 23rd- The Blind Tiger in Greensboro, North Carolina
Saturday, February 24th- Canal Club in Richmond, Virginia
Sunday, February 25th- Kingsland in Brooklyn, New York
Tuesday, February 27th- Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts
Wednesday, February 28th- The Voltage Lounge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, March 1st- Rockstar Pro Arena in Dayton, Ohio
Friday, March 2nd- The Wire in Berwyn, Illinois
Saturday, March 3rd- Pop’s in Sauget, Illinois
Sunday, March 4th- Aftershock in Merriam, Kansas
Monday, March 5th- The Marquis Theater in Denver, Colorado
Tuesday, March 6th- Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, Utah
Thursday, March 8th- The ChXrch in Las Vegas, Nevada
Friday, March 9th- 1720 in Los Angeles, California
Saturday, March 10th- Holy Diver in Sacramento, California
Sunday, March 11th- Strummer’s in Fresno, California
Monday, March 12th- Pub Rock in Phoenix, Arizona
Find Slaves at the following locations:
www.facebook.com/officialslaves
www.twitter.com/SLAVESOFFICIAL
www.instagram.com/SLAVESOFFICIAL
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