Album Review: …Until It Happens To You

There are things in life that you just don’t get They pass you by because they don’t connect with you. Then all of a sudden and usually when you don’t expect it something hits and hits hard. You don’t know why or how,

Until it happens to you.

I am going into this one completely blind. No expectations but desperately wanting to be stunned. Desperately wanting one of those unexpected, knock me off my feet moments that are extremely rare.

Coming across music that blows you away is like coming across rocking horse shit.

Most music that I haven’t chosen floats past me. Nothing wrong with it. All the parts where they are supposed to be but ultimately it is blah blah bland. It doesn’t make me feel anything but disappointment or even worse, I feel nothing at all.

So, ok here we go the opening intro is unexpected. Acoustic guitar and a spoken sample (is that shopping tills I can hear in the background?).

I am intrigued.

Holy shit. BOOM. Bones start with a blast. Energy, guitars, Instant hooks.

Please, please, please, don’t let the vocals be shit.

Oh my god. That voice. It is next level. I am reminded of Royal Blood. The vocals sound effortless but full of emotion and a perfect complement to the music. The production is also next level.

OK onto track two. Is this a new song? Closure almost sounds like Bones Part 2 it’s great especially with its chorus and of kilter song structure. Oh, we have seriously meaty riffs as well. I am bouncing.

Ok come on guys I am halfway intrigued but please give me a few more twists and turns. The potential is huge but I am still expecting to be let down by a great formula set on repeat.

Boom. There it is. The validation. The magic moment that elevates Slow Rage to real contenders. No not contenders, this isn’t battle of the bands. I mean innovators.

200 mcg kicks you in the head. (Much like Idles track whizz) 200 mcg is a 42 second blast of hardcore punk with an indie twist. A rant and rage unexpected and all the better for it. Complete head fuck. I am now really feeling this.

What follows is track after track that is drawing me deeper in. At this point I honestly think Slow Rage are one of the best bands I have heard. Note I didn’t say New Zealand band I mean any band from anywhere. This really is that good.

Very few bands have that something special that can break them out of their hometown let alone their home country.

Slow Rage (I even like the name) have that magic sauce.

They really do tick all the boxes but the most exciting thing about …Until It Happens To You is Slow Rage have managed to create something that is both accessible but also varied enough to have massive crossover appeal. It is really hard to put into words so I won’t bother. Just listen for yourself.

Ok back to it. After a brief spoken interlude we are off down a different path. With echoes of early Radiohead, First Mistake is perfectly placed with me wanting to listen to the lyrics. I am getting submerged in the emotion. Getting connected. Feeling.

Once again Slow Rage are showing why they need to be heard. This is introspection that wants to be screamed at the world.

I am now thinking what this would all sound like live. A Slow Rage gig would be something special. Let’s hope they get over to the UK. I will be there.

Closing title track (see they know what they are doing) …Until It Happens To You stands out and is another twist. Almost twice as long as all the other songs on here it builds and blends everything I have just been listening to. Even the spoken word sections are here. This is art. Great art makes you feel. Great music makes you feel and makes you move.

Slow Rage truly have it all. You won’t understand what I am talking about until it happens to you.