After a series of lineup and label changes, the alternative rock band Slaves is back with their third studio album “Beautiful Death” on SBG Records. The new record is a step in a different direction for the band with a much more pop feel to it than the first two Slaves’ albums.
Led by frontman Jonny Craig and produced by Erik Ron (Panic! At the Disco, Hands Like Houses), “Beautiful Death” is an introspective journey of overcoming adversity. The hard hitting “I’d Rather See Your Star Explode” leads things off followed by “Patience Is The Virtue,” which has Craig experimenting with some rap in addition to his normal soaring vocals. Bassist Colin Vieria and guitarist Weston Richmond are technically proficient but it’s Jonny’s voice that is the most powerful instrument on the record. Stand out tracks include the haunting tale of betrayal in “True Colors” and the high intensity track “I Know a Lot of Artists” which shows the band’s ability to balance the heavy with the melodic. The closing song “The Pact” is a powerful ballad full of raw emotion with Craig giving a truly vulnerable performance.
With “Beautiful Death,” Jonny Craig lets his feelings of heartbreak and loss out in full force and the result is a magnificent Slaves album that is both powerful and passionate.
