Misc. Day – Perfect Imperfections

In a mass grave of all the high school drama, the cliques, the frantic ability to fit into a single mold, the Slow Hollows break formation to bring an incredibly deep sophomore release that has weight behind it. Atelophobiais the fear of being not good enough, which is where the “art school kids” in Slow Hollows storyline starts to take place. The expression that is drawn from the first moments shake the walls in a summer time drive of cascades and rises until the final climax.

With the hopeful instrumentation that layers behind the graceful sing-along vocals; there is something progressive to Slow Hollows. They are not the attacking force of punk rock, but not quite the sullen style of heartbroken rock, they lie somewhere where the basement house shows and the small stages of local clubs’ reign. A sound that is synonymous with the college and the reverb heavy touches of distortion.

Atelophobia has this overarching bedroom rock style that has a somewhat lo-fi quality and the ability to shift the mood into entirely different sections within the same track. “Dark Comedy” is in a way a rollercoaster as it has the rising action and falling wave, but the way that Slow Hollows can shape each into one path makes their sound act more as a journey. With vocalist and guitarist Austin Feinstein and other guitarist Dylan Thinnes, there is this motion that coincides between Bassist Jamie Atkinson and percussionist Nick Santana that forms the backing rhythm section that veers from the frontal work of the guitars. The forming string section takes the backbone of the bass and starts to twist it, almost contorting it to fit other sense and creating a flood of sound.

As Slow Hollows sound starts to become recognizable and the listener adapts to it, there is then the sudden switch up on the track “Condition” where everything becomes slowed and exaggerated. The snare and hi-hat have these quarter-note triplets that overtake the listener and force them to shake their head as they band synchs up together. It takes the band through a similar sound, but 180-degree flip into this unknown territory. The passion and emotional attachment that Slow Hollows shows behind their sound can be felt through each motion as the band plays together. Somehow there is this sound that feels familiar, but one that also takes motions and dives in multiple directions to create something fruitful.

On one of the stand out tracks “Nerves”, there is a destructive nature of being relinquishing towards the rule books and the barriers that are placed. “How does it feel to be alone every night?… How does it feel to be ashamed every time? I’m not trying to fight, I’m not trying to say one or the other. But it’s better this way, make it okay. So go along and break the rules, cause it’s easiest to say it’s true” Feinstein explains through a sunken sense of instrumentation and heartfelt performance.

Atelophobia has a passion behind it. The metric-ton of love, emotion, and ability behind the sophomore release still has a sense of beauty and authenticity. The way that Slow Hollows synch up and forms a true backbone behind one of the more gorgeous styles of sound is something that makes their second record feel special every time.

Listen To Atelophobia Here!!! – BandCamp/Spotify/Amazon/iTunes