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Slomosa - "Tundra Rock"

 

photo credit: Kamil Parzychowski

More Than "Stoner Rock" 


I don't think I'll ever forget the first time I heard Slomosa in July 2023 when they released the single (and captivating music video) for Cabin Fever. I was blown away by what I heard: a sound so massive, multi-faceted, and dimensional. Even more astounding was a noticeable layer that was altogether delicate, while being raw and emotional...vulnerable. Delivering genuine, heartfelt songs delivered in an incredibly hooky way, Slomosa is heavy both instrumentally and emotionally. In fact, they're one of those bands that you can totally rock out to then suddenly find yourself fighting back tears because the experience is so cathartic. This is truly a band that you feel as much as you hear. I immediately knew Slomosa's sound was more than just stoner rock. As it turns out, the band themselves have a much better phrase for it: "tundra rock". 

"'Tundra Rock' is 'desert rock' in our terms," says guitarist/vocalist Ben Berdous. "A desert doesn't have to be warm, 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 to us. You could certainly say the grandiosity of nature is evident in our songs."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Much like the imposing and vast beauty of the tundra, Slomosa's brand of "tundra rock" will blow you away like a powerful icy wind gusting over the barren, frozen ground. However, if you look out over the formidable, snow-capped mountains, you'll see the weak sunlight, bringing the promise of summer. 

photo credit: Kamil Parzychowski 

From Small Beginnings

Slomosa got their start about ten years ago in their stomping grounds of Bergen, Norway. The band initially began as "a casual excuse to drink beer, smoke, and play rock music with friends." Fair enough. The coolest part was, Slomosa was under no obligations and felt no pressure, and they found that songs came to them quite organically. The band is influenced by some of the best (and some of my personal favorite) acts in the stoner/doom and grunge/alternative scenes, including Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Sleep, Nirvana, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden. 

In 2020, Slomosa released their self-titled debut to rave reviews from critics and millions (yes, millions) of streams from fans (and still going strong). Slomosa kept the momentum going by playing shows all over Europe and the UK. Recently, they embarked on a tour in the US with legendary American alternative rockers Alkaline Trio. 

The band wanted their sophomore album to be a natural continuation of where their debut left off, adding in some darker elements and more melody to represent their emotional side. Slomosa began releasing some new singles starting with the aforementioned Cabin Fever in July 2023, followed by Rice in February 2024, and, most recently, Battling Guns in July 2024. Now, on September 13, 2024, we get to hear the (very) highly-anticipated album Tundra Rock in its entirety, and I assure you, it's well worth the wait. 


Tundra Rock


1. Afghansk Rev

An eerie electric hum and delicate guitar begin the introductory track of Tundra Rock, before Mastodon-like stomps barge in, nearly crushing that ethereal, haunting beginning in its path. The best part is, both the delicate and heavy instrumentals continue together in unison throughout the entire song, adding some soaring notes at the end. This powerfully demonstrates the contrast that is such a huge part of Slomosa's sound. Afghansk Rev is a primarily instrumental track (with a brief moment of vocalizations at the end), but it's such a fitting way to begin Tundra Rock...a small taste of the mighty sound to come. 

2. Rice

I vividly remember when Rice was released as a single. Excited as I was to hear it for the first time, I have to admit I was doubtful that Slomosa could top Cabin Fever in passion and intensity. Was I ever wrong. Rice delivers the same level of power and feeling, just with a different backdrop. It has a thematic quality, as most Slomosa songs do, evoking very specific moods and memories. 

Hauntingly morose verses filled with doubt and soaring, confident choruses make up the backbone of Rice. These two moods work together to create an intensely emotive song you can feel in your soul. The icing on the cake is the cry of "Can't you see there's more than one way?" at the end amid the chaos of the heavy instrumentals. This seems to signal a desperate and frustrated request for understanding from inside the tempest of emotional turmoil. 


3. Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever has a special place in my heart, as it's the first Slomosa song I ever heard. Needless to say, this song (and its brilliant accompanying video) had me ravenous for more.

Another quality that many Slomosa songs share is an ability to sound both sad and triumphant at the same time, and Cabin Fever is a brilliant example, made clear for me in the images the song brought to mind: 
The subdued beginning had me clearly visualizing myself as a child, snowed in and trapped indoors, gazing out the window over the snowy West Virginia hills. I recall simultaneously marveling at and appreciating the beauty that met my eyes, but also ruing its existence (and the resulting inconvenience on my young life): cabin fever. 

Even though Cabin Fever came out in the summer of 2023, the pandemic was still all too fresh in our minds, and this song captures that defeated yet cautiously hopeful mood of the time brilliantly:

"And on it goes
On and on
After all, all the days are the same
On and on
At the starting line for
Nothing to come"

One of the most palpable things about Cabin Fever for me is the way it accurately depicts how we try to psych ourselves up in a valiant attempt to break free from the grips of a "funk". We think if we can just get up and get moving, give a little bit of effort with a forced smile on our faces, everything will fall into place. As we've all learned, probably more than once in our lives, that's not always the case, and the letdown is rough:

"Wake up, and I plan to seize the day
On and I go, with nothing to follow
Relax, it's only gone a day
Cabin fever
Know this was just the start"

The official music video for "Cabin Fever", which was nominated for "Best Norwegian Music Video" at BIFF 2023. 



4. Red Thundra

On Red Thundra, the bass guitar gets an awesome spotlight, and so do the vocals of its player, Marie Moe. The song is thick with fuzz and grit in addition to the spiraling bass, but it has a frosty air to it (this is tundra rock after all). The result is a sound that's blinding and chaotic like the windblown snow of a blizzard. 


5. Good Mourning

A brief and simple piano interlude, that is, as implied by its title, rather mournful in tone. 


6. Battling Guns

Here we are: Battling Guns! The chorus I've been loudly singing on nearly a daily basis since this single was released in July 2024. 

Battling Guns, at its core, is about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Although vocalist/guitarist Benjamin Berdous's roots are Algerian, he grew up in a partially Palestinian home with half-Palestinian siblings. Needless to say, he was more than a little aware of the conflict as it played out over the years. However, the song doesn't have to be that specific for the listener. Says Ben, "You can view it as throwing rocks versus battling guns. The lyrics can speak to conflicts around the world, though. In the simplest sense, it's an anti-war, anti-fascist track." 

The song as a whole is utterly infectious in spite of its serious subject matter. Ben's trademark soaring vocals and the band's immersive, whirlwind instrumentals give one of their most powerful, emotive performances yet. The chorus in particular and the shout of "Battling guns!" (as mentioned earlier) are like a rallying cry; a cry for peace that, while tired and frustrated, ultimately comes from a place of steadfast hope, discernible in the song's triumphant tone. 

The official music video for "Battling Guns"



7. Monomann

This song boasts a great bassline that makes its presence known right out of the gate along with a barreling riff that drives the instrumentals. Rather, it tries to drive them. Occasionally, they separate a bit, some drifting up and taking off, others hell bent on staying the course, and a few burrowing down low. The result sounds like several storms blowing about at once, yet somehow, they still create a very cohesive whole. Monomann really speaks to the dimension and immersive nature of Slomosa's sound and, as usual, is an irresistible earworm. The song's lyrics address "frustration with life", which is certainly evident in the beautifully tumultuous sound. 

8. MJ

MJ has a much more laid-back quality overall...that is, laid-back as done by Slomosa. Carefree, groovy verses lead into chunky, riffing choruses. On Tundra Rock as a whole, Slomosa planned to implement a grungier tone, and it's most appreciable on MJ. 


9. Dune 

Dune is a very fun change of pace for Slomosa. The aptly titled song has an Oriental influence that's sandblasted with desert flair. It coasts along smoothly, utilizing mesmeric, soothing vocalizations to add to its enchantment. This primarily instrumental song implements a few start/stop moments and skillfully applied repetition, so it's not surprising to learn that the band intended for Dune to flow much like techno, and it really does just that. As silly as this may sound, it also has a strong movie soundtrack vibe to me; a big screen, epic action movie quality... I can easily visualize badass things happening to the tune of Dune. 


 


 Final Thoughts: "'Tundra Rock' is here to stay." 

I won't bore you with a bunch of flowery words about how Tundra Rock is one of the best stoner/desert rock albums I've ever heard, certain to make the vast majority of album of the year lists for 2024 and totally worth the wait and anticipation. You already know that, we all do. As is the case with any album, no matter what I say here, you have to hear the music for yourself to have a true appreciation for it. With Tundra Rock, I feel like that holds true even more than usual. 

Tundra Rock was not an undertaking that Slomosa took lightly. Ben explains, "If you listen to this, I just hope you feel something. 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." 

Slomosa has a quality that the vast majority of my favorite bands share: just when you think they'll never be able to top what they've already done, they do. On Tundra Rock, Slomosa dialed the power, passion, and melody they already had up to 11. Somehow, they released an album that's even more emotive, relatable, and immersive than their gem of a debut, while adding some new skills to their repertoire for good measure. This is particularly evident in the more noticeable grunge influence and the (successful) use of a techno framework on Dune. The pronounced drive that Slomosa possesses to take an already great thing and make it even better via continuous growth and evolution is the hallmark of a band that's here to stay. 

More About Slomosa

photo credit: Nikoline Spjelkavik

Slomosa is:

Benjamin Berdous - Vocals and Guitar
Marie Moe - Vocals and Bass
Tor Erik Bye - Guitar
Jard Hole - Drums


You can listen to Slomosa's unique brand of tundra rock and follow them at the following links:


A massive thank you to All Noir and Stickman Records for the promo! All quotes from Ben and Slomosa's biographical information come from the EPK. 





















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