REVIEW: Slowwves Confident Explosion of Intensity on “Killed by Egoistic Disease”
WRITTEN BY KIMBERLY MURO
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“Killed by Egoistic Disease” is dark, heavy, and confrontational. Bangkok alternative rock trio Slowwves creates a sound that pushes and pulls listeners across layers of distorted textures and abrasive vocals.
The track plays on elements of varying genres like shoegaze, dream pop, and grunge, but ultimately pushes forward in its own unique way. Jill Iya’s vocals on the track take a feeling of undefined emotion into a full-blown, confident release of rage.
Vocals at the beginning of the track bleed into the swirled guitar and forceful percussion, only to explode and demand attention later on. These pockets of vocal ascension animate the song into a lifelike organism, ripping itself away from conventional notions of its inspired genres.
The three-minute mark of the song showcases a blend of distant, fuzzy vocals that almost sound like their own instrument. Alongside the guitar and slowed drum tempo, the song feels like it reaches its peak. Blurred vocals and intense instrumental come together to create an expansive sound at its most cohesive point.
The song almost folds in on itself, emerging stronger and more profound than it started.
One of the standout elements of “Killed by Egoistic Disease” is Slowwves’ ability to drive poignancy forward in a track full of volatile distortion. These moments of pause, wondering if the sound you hear is a heavy, warped bass or Iya screaming her heart out, seem to be carefully curated decisions.
Despite the elements of restraint and obscurity in the track, the emotional intensity bleeds from every angle of its four-minute run.