| Musical Style: Metal/Hard Rock | Produced By: |
| Record Label: Sancrosanct Records | Country Of Origin: USA |
| Year Released: 2020 | Artist Website: Slaves Wage |
| Tracks: 11 | Rating: 85% |
| Running Time: 52:40 |
With immaculate production and finely honed packaging, March of 2020 independent fourth album of Arlington, Texas based Slaves Wage, Heaven Or Hell, gives off impression of a big budget label based release. Much to its credit Slaves Wage spared no expense, with gist production highlighting an impeccable melding of thickset low-end and palpable guitars but allowing room for fine details in the form of crystalline leads, pinpoint vocals and spotless symbols. Arresting cover art featuring an imposing angel guiding souls upward (to heaven) or downward (hell) attributes to Jan Yrlund (Darkgrove Design), as does an colorful 12 page mini-booklet with lyrics, liner notes and scripture verses accompanying each song. Great job, guys!
Slaves Wage further impresses as a musically joining of straightforward heavy metal and blues based hard rock with a strong eighties influence, albeit not without leaving room for outside the box moments in the form of doom and even modern metal. Several instrumental cuts lend further variety. Lyrically, Slaves Wage leaves little doubt as to its faith from how (referencing its press material) ‘their hope and prayer is that (the Heaven Or Hell) songs will help all who listen find the answers to their questions, solution to their problems and peace for a troubled mind in a relationship with God’. Signature scriptures include John 3:16 and John 10:10.
In terms of the bands name, ‘Slaves’ is in reference to how Paul introduced himself in the Book of Romans as a ‘servant of Jesus Christ’, with servant better rendered as ‘slave’ or ‘bond servant’. In other words, Paul considered himself a slave of Jesus Christ or slave of God with no rights of his own. ‘Wages’ translates as ‘what is given in return for work done’. Hence, the name Slaves Wage!
Opener “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 1” is first of albums three instrumentals. It ambles forward coolly from the start, flowing to conspicuous bass until brawling guitars cut in and combine with jostling leads to set the hulking tone the remaining distance.
First vocal piece “Push” draws upon the Slaves Wage traditional metal side. It proves a powerhouse mauler, bludgeoning its way to plainspoken guitars intersperses with shouted ‘push!’ backing vocals and a shuffling presence with an underlining bluesy quality. Coming to mind in the process are other independent acts to walk a fine line between metal and hard rock in Messenger and Cleanzed Soul. Lyric snippet:
Arrayed in armor, filled with Light
Sword of the Spirit at our side
Unashamed of the Gospel of Christ
It is the power to save mankind
Albums subsequent title track takes a more melodic heading. “Heaven Or Hell” jumps starts in up-tempo fashion and does not let up its length, as galloping riffs (noting the joined at the hip rhythm section) and layered vocal melodies (lending a light commercial edge) convey of the impenetrable. Of particular note is the abundant range of classic tenor vocalist Jeff Saenz, whom exhibits propensity for the clean and crystal-clear but can also descend into darker, lower register vestiges. Lyric snippet:
You think this life lasts forever
Thumbing your nose at the Truth
You think you won’t have to answer
For all that you say and do
Blues hard rock ballad “I Feel You” drifts from the start to wave like guitars, underlining dreamy verse sections resonating of the sophisticated, but picks up force at once to clear cut rhythm guitars, galvanizing a charged as it gets refrain. Of particular note is the proficient guitar work of James Johnson and Saenz, noting the tasteful stretch of intensely done lead guitar. Lyric snippet:
This poor man cried to the Lord
And You heard him from on high
When I opened up my heart
I felt Your love come on inside
Album returns to its metal ways with “Cry Out”. Opening to several seconds of distorted guitar, the song speaks of the ominous and chilling from its ill-boding vocal melodies and darkly tinctured chorus backed by the reverberating rolling drumbeats of talented timekeeping Pedro Cortes. Speaking of talented, the lightning like soloing resonates of a power metal quality. Lyric snippet:
You’ve cried so long
So long in all the pain
You’ve hoped, you’ve prayed
Prayed for a better, brighter day
Cry out to the One…
Second instrumental “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 2” picks up where ‘Pt 1’ leaves off but with a more laid back presence as acoustic guitar and atmospheric percussion lead the way until edgy guitars kick in to allow a grainy essence.
Aptly entitled “Doom” ensues and leaves little doubt as to musical direction. Toiling and trudging its six and a half minute length, it speaks of a behemoth low end connected to unflagging riffs, albeit not forsaking accessibility as found in the decisive melody to rise above the surface. Impetus briefly accelerates for the bass heavy instrumental portion. Lyric snippet:
I a not who I used to be
Everything’s changing
The old man swallowed up by the new
No looking back, full steam ahead
Living for Jesus
Who lived and died and rose again
The modern metal of “Soul Slave” is lone track to come into question. Perhaps it is a stylistic preference, but I find the at times guttural and others screamed vocals of guest front man Daniel Bas (Becoming Sons) to border on the abrasive, or at the very least override any potential melody allowing the song to separate. No disrespect to Bas, whom could very well be the best modern metal vocalist out there, but not my cup of tea. Only blip on what is otherwise a near flawless musical album. Lyric snippet:
Into this world of sin
You came our hearts to win
To save us from death and hell
To save us from ourselves
Second ballad “All Alone” is a good one. It takes a more traditional role in comparison to “I Feel You”, further elevating the bluesy resonance with enough guitars to touch upon hard rock territory and Saenz exhibiting the full emotional range to his delivery. Echoing vocal melodies further build upon the ardor at hand. Bluesy shred guitar solo to boot. Lyric snippet:
I’m coming home
I’ll give You all of me (I hear You calling me)
I’ve been so wrong (It’s been so long)
You’ve been so good to me (You’ve waited patiently)
I’m coming home!
Back to bare bones metal with “The Stone”, a pounding riff driven and technical drum roll aligned slugger with a mid-paced bent and all the anthem-like competence you could ask. The catchy ’certain and sure!, the Kingdom will come…’ refrain borders on the mesmerizing, as does another stretch of fulminating guitar leads. I cannot help but be reminded of Daniel Band. Lyric snippet:
A Kingdom was promised so long ago
Out of a mountain was cut a Stone
Would crush and destroy all those that it faced
Would grow ‘til covered
The earth every trace
Albums aptly entitled third and final instrumental “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 3” closes things. Musically, it carries over momentum from “The Stone” with a similar mid-paced hard rock bent as drudging guitars and intricately woven harmonies plow its four-minute distance. Credit the instrumental cuts from the manner in which they come across less as interlude filler and more as fulfilling an essential role in the track listing in tying individual songs musically together.
I appreciate the professionalism to Heaven Or Hell, and not just in terms of packaging and production but also songwriting and band performance. Slaves Wage is the real deal talent wise when factoring the trio of Cortes, Johnson and Saenz. With the possible exception of “Soul Slave” (depending on your musical tastes), I find the album to maintain a high level of consistency and continuity. For an independent release, Heaven Or Hell does everything right. I look forward to Slaves Wage building upon the albums success with even bigger things to come.
Review by Andrew Rockwell
Track Listing: “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 1” (4:31), “Push” (3:24), “Heaven Or Hell” (6:01), “I Feel You” (5:28), “Cry Out” (4:24), “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 2” (2:18), “Doom” (6:42), “Soul Slave” (4:35), “All Alone” (6:34), “The Stone” (4:55), “The Eternal Triumvirate Pt 3” (3:49)
Musicians
Jeff Saenz - Lead Vocals & Guitars
James Johnson - Guitars
Pedro Cortes - Drums & Percussion
Additional Musicians
Daniel Bas - Lead Vocals
Dino Gilley - Bass
