The name The Velvet SuperSloths may conjure some entertaining and amusing imagery within our limitless imaginations, but it does not prepare you for the utter filth that encrusts the steely strings and soiled drums of this Canadian quintet’s colossus sludge metal sound. Entering the ring with their self-titled debut album, The Velvet SuperSloths, the band compete on par with the titans of their groove metal influences.
‘Irresistible’ knocks on your front door with Johnny Maximum’s drumming and, as you reluctantly let the acrimonious delinquents into your beloved home, Yanick Brouillard’s bass groove trudges mud that once clung to his steel toed boots into the cream carpet. David Boisse’s vocals take a sledge hammer to the antique vase you so proudly kept on the mantlepiece, and as you weep for the loss of a treasured family heirloom, ‘Irresistible’s’ chorus sets up a Pantera styled vocal melody. A slower breakdown creeps in with Eric Provencher’s and Jean-François St-Cyr’s crawling guitars, the nightmarish spiral ceased by a vocal grunt and the lyrics “I live to be hated.”
As the records lead single, ‘Higher Fire’ embodies the groove metal element in it’s opening riff accompanied by stoner metal verses and hard rock choruses that give this track a commercial edge. (But not too much.) On the contrary, thrash metal drumming makes ‘Forsaken Life’ the bands’ staple mosh-pit inducing soundtrack.
Slower, chillingly clean guitars and down-tuned notes reverberate into ‘Dead Red Moon,’ dissonantly slipping into the void. Picture a pristine, unsullied white moon highlighting the night sky when a canister of blood red paint is spilt across the now tainted canvas, the forbidding drums changing the atmosphere drastically. Tribal and cultish chanting arises as the breakdown kicks in, decelerating to an almighty ‘Black Sabbath’ crawl complete with pinch harmonics that spike and heighten the senses.
Selling your soul to the Devil is a major narrative across the board in rock music; from the myths gatekeeper Robert Johnson to The Pretty Reckless, from Airbourne to Tenacious D, the ceremonious initiation doesn’t stop there. ‘Sold Your Soul’ moves with a skip in it’s step, the vivacious track exhibiting classic rock melodies with Wolfmother riffs.
Opening with a jauntier Pantera ‘Walk’ riff, ‘I Am Penny’ considers the troubles of children’s nightmares; “It keeps me awake at night, I have to sleep to see someone die.// I’m just waiting for the right time, and the day will be mine.” ‘Where Are You’ utilises gospel chants that borrow from their viking metal brethren as masses of long boats breach the calm and unsuspecting shores singing: “There are faces to the voices you are hearing now.”
The Velvet SuperSloths’ influences are displayed honourably throughout their music, ‘Uncertain Outcome’ making use of guitar solos and segments corresponding to Metallica’s ballads akin to the Unforgiven Trilogy. Unlike the aforementioned, ‘Sloth-Toe’ steers away from the standard practices of vocals and instead presents lyrics that appear in their native French Canadian residence, the musicality offering an upbeat melody similar to the sea shanties of Alestorm that are more suited to headbanging fun.
‘Dirty Night’ does exactly what it says on the lubricant label as it opens with whipping and moaning sound effects, the fun and playful tune exploring carnal desires and fantasies; “Leave marks on my body, like a butcher with a piece of meat.”
Unlike their predecessors desire for long epics, The Velvet SuperSloths had refrained from tumbling into this rabbit hole and had opted for tiptoeing around the 3-minute mark until the albums swan song, allowing themselves to give in to the deadly sin of greed just this one time. Swinging in at 8-minutes, ‘Realms of Death’ deceives with it’s initial soft and stripped back reverb ringing out into the ether, the latter half crashing in with heavier segments we have become so attached to.
The only acceptable way to listen to The Velvet SuperSloths’ debut record is loud enough for your neighbours to rightfully make a noise complaint. The Velvet SuperSloths is available now across all streaming platforms, and for more band information and touring updates, click here or visit social medias linked below.
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