Premiering via Short.Fast.Loud, Slowbvrn have released “Tether” today. You might already know the band as Passerby, who have had to change their band name due to legal reasons. The five piece formed in 2019, with the lineup including Andrew Richey (vocals), Jarrod Salton (guitar), Christopher Winstone (guitar), Matt McKinnon (drums), and Tory Robertson (bass). They already have an EP under their belts, and Stay Close To Home doubles both as a crash course in getting to know the band as well as some sturdy advice in COVID-19 times.
“Tether” by song name as well as definition speaks about the connection between two people. It opens with a tumbling intro before kicking in with a driving pace, and vocal desperation is soon apparent. Exploring that connection, observations are shared in a third person perspective, where it becomes clear as to how they’re hurting themselves by fixating on the past, and losing who they are in the process. This tether is a damaging link, where holding on is harmful.
“An abolition, an undoing of my identity.”
More accelerated then, a heart-in-the-throat tension blasts outward while encased in exploring guitar. It seems that a decision is made to sever the connection, and the nothingness that remains in the protagonist has them sinking and aching. This is all beautifully expressed via guitar and erratic rhythms as well as the vocals. The more hopeful chorus is akin to an upward glance from the grave they’ve dug for themselves. A question of savouring what was lost, but again being damaged by it.
Clearly tumultuous of subject matter, the loss of dreams from the past, destruction of their future, as well as who they are in the present is expressed deftly by colourful twists and turns of guitar, tight rhythms, and pressure delivered via drums. Two voices intertwined with their differing parts add to the sense of disconnect.
The inevitable end and blackened internal landscape lands in thick monotony, but only for a moment before “Tether” sweeps the listener up in the tag-team vocals and active instrumentation. The reference in the song of the tether between the protagonist’s emotions and state of mind add further depth of meaning to what is being shared.
This is such a breathlessly angsty and emotive song to be with – in a good way. Check out “Tether” via its Cian Marangos music video below, and follow Slowbvrn on Facebook HERE.
