Review: Slaves – “Through Art We Are All Equals”

Slaves

“Through Art We Are All Equals”

Release Date: June 24th 2014

Label: Artery Recodings

Rating: 3/5

Jonny Craig (ex Emarosa and Dance Gavin Dance) is back. Although not sure if it’s for the best or if he should let the last stay dead (Relativity fans will get that). But at first listen, “Through Art We Are All Equals” is an impressive album when compared to bands of similar styles. The records big down fall is that it blends in too well. When played back to back with Hands Like Houses- “Unimagine”, it’s very bleak. The same patterns show up, although not as heavy as the Aussie counterparts.

Musically, this is album is well written. The songs seem to flow well together, but many of the same tricks are in constant use from cover to cover. The album rarely strays into unfamiliarity, but when it does it shines. If you want something more than you should keep moving. Once again, Jonny has proved to be a vocal powerhouse. It seems he has cleaned up his act and gotten his things together. For a man with a pretty interesting past, he’s made a solid name for himself in music. The man has pipes and he let’s them shine through. But just with much of modern music, it stays the course. Impressive but not at the same time.

This is just the debut though, so who knows what these guys have in store for them. While not a bad album, it’s trite and been done over and over again. This band has potential to be something bigger than a sum of it’s part. It’s a little disappointing that they’ve chose to blend in with their peers. This band could be a diamond in the rough, only time will tell.