FishFarm Records, 2021
Music: Metal
Website:
https://www.slavestofashion.net/
https://www.facebook.com/slavestofashionband/
https://slavestofashion.bandcamp.com/album/the-history-of-heavy-metal
Duration: 59:16 (10 tracks)
Country: Norway
They started out in 2001 as P.O.B, recording one full album. Then in 2009 renamed themselves to SLAVES TO FASHION and recorded another album after a few years. And only after the next ten years, the singles appeared, which made up the full album “The History of Heavy Metal”.
As the title of the album indicates, it takes the listener on a musical journey through 50 years of Metal’s existence to pay tribute to the legendary giants who shaped Metal music. However, in order to perfectly recreate the essence and atmosphere of many genres of Metal music, various guests were invited to record each song…
The album and the history begin in 1970 with the song “MCMLXX”… And already the first guitar sounds bring to mind the achievements of BLACK SABBATH (from the time with Ozzy Osbourne). And the Hammond organ reminds us of DEEP PURPLE. On the other hand, some guitar passages and solos indicate LED ZEPPELIN inspiration. The timbre of the vocals is somewhat similar to Ozzy’s characteristic singing. In addition, to give the piece a typical sound and atmosphere from those years, it was recorded on old analog equipment. The song almost sounds like it was recorded in the 70s…
“The Priest of Maidenhead”… The second song will historically jumping about 10 years ahead and introduce us to the typical classic Heavy Metal, which is played at the characteristic pace of a galloping horse with very characteristic guitar riffs. The most riffs are confusingly similar to IRON MAIDEN, along with stylish melodic solos. It could not be otherwise. And the way of singing and its timbre are inspired by Bruce Dickinson. And some guitar patents are also a tribute to JUDAS PRIEST. Purest Heavy Metal!
“Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘N’ Roll”… What a famous phrase! And the track reminds us about a catchy and of course sensual form of Heavy Metal, called Glam Metal or Hair Metal. The song uses a style typical for this genre, i.e. the influences of Pop music appearing in a hit, catchy refrains. In addition, slightly hoarse, seductively swashbuckling singing, catchy solos, a slightly ballad sound… And the fun lasts until morning! Then there is only a giant hangover and women’s underwear scattered everywhere!
“Thrash of the Titans” brought a heavier and more aggressive atmosphere… Thrash Metal in its purest form. Initially, the riffs were very similar to METALLICKA, as well as the mannerism of the vocal. Of course, between the thrashy riffs there was also an atmospheric but dark slowdown (with clean guitar passages). These we know from, for example, METALLICKA’s early albums. However, later the arrangement also draws heavily on the achievements of SLAYER, MEGADETH or KREATOR. In addition, the lyrics also refer to the albums of the above and other bands that set the canons of this genre…
“Expressions of Extremity” is the song containing influences of other types of Metal, bringing us slowly towards the turn of the 80/90 and a bit further… It is an interesting interpretation of Speed Metal, Doom Metal, Death Metal, Grindcore and Black Metal closed in one piece divided into as if 5 separate parts, creating a total mishmash. So the opening part of “Speed of Light” is quite fast, very rhythmic and strong but specifically melodic track with aggressive vocals that smoothly turns into “At the Gates of Doom”. It’s typical, classic CANDLEMASS-style Doom Metal with slow and heavy pace, slow-flowing solos and atmospheric keyboards. And of course with the melancholy, howling singing (in the style of Messiah Marcolin), which transforms into a powerful growling, giving the effect of the powerful Doom Death Metal, to merge with the mighty and fast theme of “Scent of Death”, straight from the ruthless Death Metal, where brutality and crushing force cause a Metal tornado, slowing down the pace for a moment or throwing out a bloody solo… Definitely this fragment shows different faces of Death Metal to suddenly get silence and give way to a brutal carnage – “Grind to the Core”. It undoubtedly brings the listener closer to the essence of Grindcore, i.e. very aggressive, ultra heavy, ultra fast, even hysterical and of course choleric expulsion of residual emotions… The last fragment of this mix is ”Black Nights of Northern Darkness”, which shows the darkest side of Metal music. With its blasphemous and very dark, filled not only with hatred and evil, but also with fast distorted arpeggios, typical demonic vocals, as we know from MAYHEM, EMPEROR or DARKTHRONE and the like, as well as with a specific psychedelic melody, trance slowdowns and keys emanations in the background, for example in the style of BURZUM…
The next song “Garden of Chains” takes the listener to the area of Grunge, which undoubtedly has its roots also in Heavy Metal, influencing many musicians and bands to such an extent that they began to be inspired by Grunge while composing Metal songs. This track shows the heavier and darker side of Grunge, with slow paces, pessimistic mood typical of vocal mannerism (like in drug state), somewhat reminiscent of ALICE IN CHAINS or SOUNDGARDEN…
The song “The Evergrowing Tree” shows how Metal music started to progressively grow and improve, also drawing inspiration from 70s Progressive Rock, Jazz and classical music and many other genres, which resulted in, for example, Progressive Metal. And it was in the first part of this piece, which was given the subtitle “Progressive Power”, that a wide range of progressive influences and extensive melodies (mainly guitar and keyboards) as well as unexpected virtuoso patents were presented. Which of course brings associations with DREAM THEATER (especially with the vocals sung in falsetto). But when the growlings appeared, they also reminded of the progressive subspecies of Death Metal…
And suddenly another part of “Alternative Alternatives” appeared, in the style of PANTERA, with crushing groove licks and heavy-blues solos, or Stoner Metal patents to suddenly go into Industrial Metal zones (maybe like MINISTRY), slowing down to Sludge Metal steps and next
to immerse us in Gothic Metal themes together with the “Extreme Evolution” part (for example in the style of SENTENCED or THEATRE OF TRAGEDY with male growls and female singing) or to increase aggression, pace and solo expression by presenting Melodic Death / Black Metal and to merge in a moment with other style… of RAMMSTEIN … And at the end the track wanders around many regions of extreme Metal, at times gives a rest with melancholic themes to end this over thirteen-minute long song with atmospheric Black Metal… Phew … I got lost myself.
The title of the eighth track “The Power of Metal” also speaks for itself. This is probably the most positive side of Metal music… Dynamic paces, technical licks, beautiful, even sweet melodies, enhanced mood (typical for hymns), catchy (often falsetto or romantic) vocals, emotionally moving compositions and symphonic interjections. You want to live while listening to this song!
It was not without Nu Metal reminiscences in the song “The NU Wine”. Everything that is typical for this genre is here. And what caused a lot of controversy in the world of Metal fans… The mainly melodic and Rap vocals (which also sometimes turn into strong screams and specific growls) and electronic samples with heavy and rhythmic guitars and sometimes with Post-Punk chords playing. In here the music of course was associated with LIMP BIZKIT or LINKIN PARK.
The album closes with “Too Close (to See Clearly)”, which in a short four minutes summarizes the evolution of Metal music, additionally presenting other genres, starting from heavy Groove Metal / Southern Metal, going through crushy and at the same time melodic and emotional Metalcore. Then the music is stopping at Symphonic Metal (from with extensive keys and feminine gentle singing), then at powerful and aggressive Deathcore or at specifically melodic Folk Metal. And then as well as the music is hooking on Blackgaze for a moment and mixing in its own sauce. And finally ending with a total hybrid which is Kawaii Metal (with girlish singing and strong growling). Personally, I would prefer to hear each of these fragments as a separate song.
Of course, Metal music is so widely developed and complex that it is impossible to put it all in one album. For example, the recently fashionable Djent Metal or Post-Metal and other subspecies and hybrids are missing.
This album is the perfect audiobook about the history of Metal music!
Tracklist:
1. MCMLXX
2. The Priest of Maidenhead
3. Sex, Drugs & Rock ‘n’ Roll
4. Thrash of the Titans
5. Expressions of Extremity
6. Garden of Chains
7. The Evergrowing Tree
8. The Power of Metal
9. The NU Wine
10. Too Close (to See Clearly)
Line-up:
Johannes Støle – vocals, keys
Torfinn Sirnes – guitars
Stein Arild Grønås – guitars
John Lind – bass
Vidar Ingvaldsen – drums
Rate: 9.0/10
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