Band : Slaves Of Gravity

Album title : Scatter The Crow

Label : Gravitas Records (Private label)

Distributor : Self-distribution

Release date : 31/03/2008

Release : CD

London based quartet Slaves To Gravity was formed in the Summer of 2006 by lead singer/ guitarist Tommy Gleeson and bassist/ backing singer Toshi Ogawa (both formerly with The Ga-Ga's), who joined with lead guitarist/ backing singer Mark Verney (ex -Ariel-X), and drummer Jason Thomopoulos in a direct reaction against all the watery-eyed nostalgia of the Classic Rock revival and the macho-misogyny of so much modern Metal.

In Tommy's own words: "After years of getting ripped-off, fucked over and burnt, we're painfully aware of how naive a band can sound when they talk about conuering the world...but instead of all this negativity killing us off, it's become our cause. We realize that wer'e all at the mercy of the forces around us. We're all Slaves To Gravity. It's the admission of our own mortality, if you will, that gives us a unique strength. A realism and honesty you don't so often see in bands. It's the ultimate weapon."

During 2007 the band toured both the UK and the US, released the two singles Big Red and Meantime (both in 7-inch vinyl and CD formats, and on their own label Gravitas) which both entered the UK Rock Charts (respectively at # 4 and staying in the Top 10 for 4 weeks, and slightly better at #3), and had the videos supporting those releases rotated on Scuzz TV, Kerrang! TV and MTV2. In other words: the guys effectively took things in their own hands! In fact, they're doin' so well, they were invited back to the US for a series of shows as part of the infamous Austin (Texas) SXSW (read "South By South-West") music showcase event on March 13 just now (after having played a gig in New York on the 10th)!

Leading up to the release of their debut full-length album (13 tracks, 52 ½ minutes playing time), the band has released their third single Regulator on March 17th and announced an upcoming full UK tour (25 dates in 29 days) in April, supported by Manchester band Grand Volume. Having released their debut album Send Me Your Champion only last January on Fat Northerner , that trio is comparable to STG only in the fact that they play an Alternative Rock...which they themselves describe as "an awesome racket – the missing link between classic stadium bombast and Post-Hardcore Death Noise...").

Because...our friends from the Soùth of England have chosen an óther vehicle to make their musical statement. Again in the band's own words: "...drawing from a huge range of influences they combine melody and muscle to devastating effect, creating music that demands to be heard...Rock music from the heart, for the soul...a band from the below screaming at the world above, giving voice to the millions who feel cheated by the system they were suckled on...the soundtrack to your revolution..."! Well...while some of their lyrics may (haven't had time to check...no lyrics available, see?) be a cry against some of the established "truths" (take the self-explanatory "Heaven Is A Lie" , for instance), the music is not usually associated with socio-politically laden topics. Because there's only óne way to categorize this: darn good Grunge. Younger readers who never heard of this genre-shaking trend (in that it set back anything that was not Grunge) of the '90s, "Alternative Rock" may do. Listen to some of their music at myspace.com/slavestogravityofficial, where you'll find full mp3-files to the three singles, and the possibility to hear a short snippet from each song on the album, as well as view the video for new single Mr. Regulator (videos of the other two videos are also available on MusicRemedy.com ). On the band's website slavestogravity.com you'll find additonal audio files for two more songs (demo version of album opener "Heaven Is A Lie" , and "Pluto" ) and again the videos for "Big Red" and "Meantime" , plus a "making of" shoot for both...in the "Media" section. Under "Exclusive", you'll find a 27-minute recording of the band bein' interviewed/ talking in the studio in between recording sessions & playing some of their favourite songs (apparently used for some radio show), plus a 26-minute recording done at a Radio Caroline show, with the band also playing an acoustic set. Also, you can watch the interview done at Scuzz TV, where the band members tell everyone what they're attemping to achieve and the reasons behind their "independence" views.

Personally, I feel it's funny for a band to be making a statement about nostalgia, etc...when the whole Grunge scene did so much harm to other scenes back when. Because it wasn't because people in general were tired of listening to what was already around that this genre made it so big, but rather because big corporate promoters pushed it onto us (while willfully ignoring and putting aside anything that didn't fit their money-making ideas). Besides...the whole Grunge thing's been left for dead for a while now, hasn't it? Hahah! No matter what, with their album STG dó bring a fresh breath of air in the current, bent-on-aggression music scene. And the fact that they're doin' it on their own is therefore the much more admirable! I mean, that fact alone is a fist in the face of big music industry, innit?

90/100

Tony.