Slomosa Post “Battling Guns” Video; Sign to MNRK Heavy; Tundra Rock Out Sept. 13
I’m not trying to play Mr. Cool here or anything like that, but I’m just not sure how much of an announcement there is to coincide with Slomosa’s new video for “Battling Guns.” I was hoping the PR wire would have word of their new album to coincide with the single/clip’s release, but no such luck as yet. The band I think put it up at midnight last night CET, and it’s still early AM on the US East Coast, so maybe the press release will be along.
The Norwegian four-piece are due to confirm a release date for their second album, of which “Battling Guns” is a highlight, among other things around that. They’ve already lined up their first-ever US touring, in odd-fit-but-whatever support of Alkaline Trio this September, and after that they’re set to return to Europe on the quick to co-headline with Greenleaf as Psychlona open. A concurrent album release doesn’t seem unreasonable as expectations go, but until I see it, I’m not saying it. Record could show up in December for all I know.
Whenever it’s due, Slomosa‘s sophomore outing will have received significant lead-in. “Battling Guns” follows behind two other singles in “Rice” and “Cabin Fever” (video premiere here), and last I heard both of those were also on the record. That’s nearly half of the tracklisting by the time you get past the intro and interlude, so a not-insubstantial portion. But it’s the shows and the touring that are going to keep propelling this band, and the songs that are going to get heads out to the shows, so yes, the more the merrier, however grim and Europe-at-war the theme is around “Battling Guns.”
Crazy catchy, though, and a sweet encapsulation of how Slomosa have been able to put so much of the heavy underground in their corner since the release of their 2020 self-titled debut (review here). There ain’t no secret to it. It’s the songs themselves.
If an album or anything-else announcement does come through, I’ll add it in here and make a note. Until then, the video is worth enjoying on its own merits, so by all means, have at it.
Tour dates and such follow, as well as players for “Cabin Fever” and “Rice” [EDIT: Yeah, that press release came in. Album is called Tundra Rock, will be out through MNRK Heavy and Stickman Records on Sept. 13. More below.]:
Slomosa, “Battling Guns” official video
Slomosa Sign to MNRK Heavy; Band to Release New LP, ‘Tundra Rock’, September 13
Stream New Video “Battling Guns” Now; U.S. Tour Dates Announced
Norwegian riff-rock regalers, Slomosa, have signed with independent music group MNRK Heavy (High on Fire, Escuela Grind, Crowbar). The Bergen-based band will release its new LP, ‘Tundra Rock’, on September 13. Boasting a brazen backbone of groove-bitten punch and silken melodic hooks heavily inspired by the Palm Desert music scene, Slomosa showcases a hibernating sound that has been reawakened for a new generation. Pre-order/save ‘Tundra Rock’ at this location: https://slomosa.ffm.to/tundrarock
In celebration of its new label home, Slomosa today releases a video for the new track “Battling Guns”.
“Slomosa is an absol
ute riff powerhouse with an amazing live show,” comments MNRK Heavy SVP, Rock & Metal, Scott Givens. “They are an incredible band and all of us at MNRK are thrilled they have picked us to be their label partners.”
Expansive mountains constitute nearly two-thirds of Norway. This breathtaking grandeur gives the country a sense of natural splendor and mystique as if its topography has held secrets for millennia. ‘Tundra Rock’ is, quite simply, ‘Desert Rock’ on Slomosa’s terms.
“A desert doesn’t have to be warm”, observes vocalist/guitarist Ben Berdous. “If you think about it, the biggest desert in the world is Antarctica. In this respect, the tundra is our desert. We thought it would be cool to coin a genre, and it’s stuck. You could certainly say the grandiosity of nature is evident in the songs of Slomosa.”
‘Tundra Rock’ is also advanced by the superbly heavy track, ‘Rice’, a cavernous cut soaked in sunbaked groove.
Since the release of its self-titled debut album in 2020, SLOMOSA has performed upwards of 130 shows and high-profile festival appearances in over twenty countries alongside bands such as High on Fire, Graveyard, Elder, Ufomammut, and Witch; its explosive live performances have earned the band an enthusiastic global fanbase. SLOMOSA’s music has even captured the attention of rock greats like Tool guitarist Adam Jones, who shared his enthusiasm for the band on his social media, and Kyuss legends Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri, who expressed their love for SLOMOSA’s sound.
In the end, Slomosa welcome everyone into their world on ‘Tundra Rock’.
“If you listen to this album, I just hope you feel something,” Berdous adds. “This is my life project. It means a lot to me. It’s given me a chance I never thought I’d have. I’m fortunate to be here. I want you to take away that “Tundra Rock” is here to stay.”
US Merchandise Store: https://www.slomosamusic.com
Follow Us! https://linktr.ee/slomosa
‘Tundra Rock’ track listing:
1.) Afghansk
2.) Rice (stream VIDEO)
3.) Cabin Fever (stream VIDEO)
4.) Red Thundra
5.) Good Mourning
6.) Battling Guns (stream VIDEO)
7.) Monomann
8.) MJ
9.) Dune
‘Battling Guns’ Music Video:
Director: Yorick S. Gontarek
DP: Jon Hunnålvatn Tøn & Finn Burrows
Editor: Yorick S. Gontarek & Jon Hunnålvatn Tøn
Producer : Yorick S. Gontarek, Jon Hunnålvatn Tøn & Finn Burrows
Executive Producer: Slomosa / Benjamin Berdois
Production Company: Front Film
Photography : Sverre Hjørnevik
Drone: UAS VOSS
Lighting : SPRiLT
Backline : Backline Voss
Additional : HB Lyd og Lys
US tour w/ Alkaline Trio:
11.09 – San Antonio, TX
12.09 – New Orleans, LA
15.09 – Charleston, SC
17.09 – Wilmington, DE
19.09 – Wallingford, CT
20.09 – Wantagh, NY
21.09 – Sayreville, NJ
22.09 – Hampton Beach, NH
24.09 – Buffalo, NY
26.09 – Grand Rapids, MI
27.09 – Milwaukee, WI
28.09 – Columbus, OH
29.09 – Newport, KY
GREENLEAF & SLOMOSA w/ PSYCHLONA
30 SEP 2024 Leipzig (DE) Werk2
01 OCT 2024 Berlin (DE) Lido
02 OCT 2024 (DE) Hamburg (DE) Gruenspan
03 OCT 2024 Köln (DE) Club Volta
04 OCT 2024 Bielefeld (DE) Forum
05 OCT 2024 Leeuwarden (NL) Into the Void
06 OCT 2024 Pratteln (CH) Up in Smoke
07 OCT 2024 Innsbruck (AT) PMK
09 OCT 2024 Wien (AT) Arena
10 OCT 2024 Zagreb (HR) Vintage Industrial Bar
11 OCT 2024 Graz (AT) PPC
12 OCT 2024 München (DE) Keep It Low
Slomosa are:
Benjamin Berdous – Vocals/guitar
Marie Moe – Vocals/bass
Tor Erik Bye – Guitar
Jard Hole – Drums
Slomosa was a slow burn for me. I only bought the first album because it was so high on the Obelisk end of the year list. I saw them live at the Sonic Whip festival in 2022 for the first time and while they were solid, they did not blow me away. However, the album ended up in my music rotation time and again and kept growing on me. Then I saw Slomosa again at the Lazy Bones festival 2023 in Hamburg and this time they pulled my socks off. I might be mistaken but I got the impression that the band had developed immensely in the 1,5 years between those 2 gigs. I’ve been looking forward to the new album ever since. All three singles are great, but Battling Guns takes the cake.