You’ve probably already read everything about one of the most anticipated albums of 2024. Our fellow music writers have already dissected the album in great detail, track by track, and you already have an opinion about SLOMOSA‘s “tricky sophomore album”. Some joined the “too radio-friendly” team, while others cried genius, putting the album in their top 10 end-of-year list. But let’s go a step further and think about what this album actually means for the band and the scene...
Slomosa made a name for themselves on the first shot, even though the circumstances weren’t working in their favor. Let’s rewind to the end of summer 2020: the Norwegian foursome revealed their self-titled debut amid the global pandemic, when releases found it hard to make their way to the top, so much so that the whole Earth was looking elsewhere and supporting an album with a tour was considered a fantasy.
Nothing exceptional on the horizon back then: the album wasn’t reinventing the wheel with its obvious QOTSA DNA and European stoner rock influences. However, they broke through despite a relative simplicity, mostly thanks to the band’s cool attitude and omnipresence in clubs and on festival stages. The word-of-mouth worked wonders and quickly propelled them on the Hellfest’s Valley Stage in 2022. Slomosa has fast become a conceivable alternative to the same old headliners such as Truckfighters or Monolord at our great stoner rock masses. The shadow of the “one hit single band” gradually faded: Slomosa wasn’t only about “Kevin” or “Horses” after all.
Yet they lacked a bigger catalog of tracks to establish this position fully. That’s when newer singles appeared and started fleshing out their setlist, now solidly anchored in their recent performances. So when “Tundra Rock” dropped, the album openers (and instant hits) “Afghansk Rev”, “Rice” and “Cabin Fever” were already well-known by fans. And as you may already know, the rest of the album is just as solid. There is absolutely NO filler on “Tundra Rock”. Without any frills or intricacy, their rolling grooves and haunting melodies keep you coming back for more. The Norwegians have considerably upped the ante and honed their signature blend of stoner riffs and 90s-sounding grungy hooks, yet the melodies are the real heartbeat of “Tundra Rock” — so irresistible that you’ll keep humming them long after you’ve listened to the album. If I had to pick just one, it would be the anti-war torpedo “Battling Guns” with bassist Marie Moe on backing vocals, offering even a sharper contrast to Benjamin Berdous’ voice. Here and elsewhere, her appearances are instant ear-catchers.
The grumpiest of listeners might point out that the riff on this song is strangely reminiscent of QOTSA’s “First It Giveth” or that the rhythm section on “MJ” could be the background beat to Kyuss’ “Demon Cleaner”. But who cares? Slomosa has perfected their brand of Tundra Rock — the Norwegian equivalent of Californian Desert Rock — a sonic mirror of the contrasting landscapes surrounding their hometown Bergen. For their ability to blend the sharpness of rock and brilliant pop hooks is what makes Slomosa so special.
What about the new generation? Slomosa’s freshness, vitality and heady songwriting confirm that they can become the standard-bearers of 20s Stoner Rock and push this music towards more mainstream spheres and festivals like QOTSA did back in the day. They can do it. And if it can (once again) put the Stoner Rock sphere in the spotlight, we can only wish them well.
Last modified: 26 September 2024
