{{Short description|American rock band}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Slow Mass | image = | image_size = | landscape = yes | origin = Chicago, IL | genre = {{flatlist| *Post-Hardcore *Indie rock *Post-Rock <!--Sourced in style section below--> <!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. --> }} | years_active = {{start date|2015}}–present | label = Landland Colportage | website = {{URL|http://slowmassmusic.com/}} | current_members = *Dave Collis *Josh Sparks *Josh Parks *Mercedes Webb *Evan Bernard *Sean Hallock *Emma McCall | past_members = *David Maruzzella }}
'''Slow Mass''' is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois featuring former members of Into It. Over It., Damiera, and No Sleep Records alum Former Thieves.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pach |first1=Corinne |title=Slow Mass premieres new single "Dark, Dark Energy", Announces Tour and Upcoming Record |url=https://imposemagazine.com/bytes/news/slow-mass-dark-dark-energy |website=Impose |access-date=13 October 2021 |date=July 2016}}</ref> They took their name from the Glenn Branca composition.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gelfand |first1=Zac |title=Band To Watch: Slow Mass |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1894797/band-to-watch-slow-mass/interviews/band-to-watch/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=13 October 2021 |date=August 24, 2016}}</ref>
==History== Slow Mass began in 2015. The following year, they released their first extended play, ''Treasure Pains'', with the record label Landland Colportage.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robinson |first1=Collin |title=Stream Slow Mass Treasure Pains EP |url=https://www.stereogum.com/1897499/stream-slow-mass-treasure-pains-ep/music/|website=Stereogum |access-date=11 July 2018 |date=September 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Garner |first1=Sadie |title=PREMIERE: Slow Mass Are Here to Help You Return to the Grind with the "Treasure Pain" EP |url=http://floodmagazine.com/39754/premiere-slow-mass-are-here-to-help-you-return-to-the-grind-with-the-treasure-pain-ep/ |website=Flood Magazine |access-date=11 July 2018 |date=September 6, 2016}}</ref> In 2018, Slow Mass released their debut full-length album titled ''On Watch''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cohen |first1=Ian |title=Slow Mass: On Watch |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/slow-mass-on-watch/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=11 July 2018 |date=May 14, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Colburn |first1=Randall |title=Slow Mass offer a Track By Track breakdown of their debut LP, On Watch: Stream |url=https://consequence.net/2018/05/slow-mass-offer-a-track-by-track-breakdown-of-their-debut-lp-on-watch-stream/ |website=Consequence (publication) |access-date=11 July 2018 |date=May 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Cosores |first1=Philip |title=Premiere: Chicago's Slow Mass Deliver A Blast Of Pulverizing Post-Hardcore On 'Schemes' |url=https://uproxx.com/music/slow-mass-schemes-premiere-on-watch/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=13 October 2021 |date=March 28, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Vallejo-Lopez |first1=Abdiel |title=Listen to "Suburban Yellow," the Hard-Hitting New Single From Slow Mass |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/slow-mass/listen-to-suburban-yellow-the-hard-hitting-new-sin |website=Paste |access-date=13 October 2021 |date=May 3, 2018}}</ref>
Throughout 2019 and 2020, Slow Mass released a trio of 7"s under their ''Music for Ears'' series.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Breihan |first1=Tom |title=Slow Mass - "Siren" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2039429/slow-mass-siren/news/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=April 11, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Deville |first1=Chris |title=Slow Mass - "Mal" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2068936/slow-mass-mal/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=January 6, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Deville |first1=Chris |title=Slow Mass – "Portraits To Oakland" & "Sub Yellow" |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2087003/slow-mass-portraits-to-oakland-sub-yellow/music/ |website=Stereogum |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=June 5, 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, the band released a surprise album titled ''Music for Rest''. The release provided a sonic departure from their existing catalog with an hour long ambient composition broken up into 50 tracks.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Anthony |first1=David |title=Getting Wrapped Up and Gaming the System |url=https://davidanthony.substack.com/p/getting-wrapped-up-and-gaming-the |website=Former Clarity |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=December 7, 2020}}</ref>
In 2021, the band's momentum was halted after frontman Dave Collis was accused of sexual assault. Dangerbird Records severed ties with the band as a result of the allegation.<ref>https://pitchfork.com/news/slow-mass-dropped-from-label-following-sexual-assault-allegations-against-frontman-dave-collis-who-calls-allegations-false/</ref> In early 2022, singer-bassist Mercedes Webb released a statement on the band's social media pages discussing the allegation and text messages that had surfaced from the accuser.<ref name="instagram3">{{cite web |last1=Webb |first1=Mercedes|title=Slow Mass - Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17846774267761744/ |accessdate=27 November 2024 |publisher=Instagram}}</ref> The allegation resulted in a lawsuit and counter-suit, which was settled outside of civil court with a joint statement between both parties.<ref>https://notinourscene.com/#/show-story/9r55v5G1wnBUB0M2iAbw</ref>
The band resumed release activity in 2024 with a new EP titled ''Drift Themes'', released by Landland Colportage.<ref>{{citation |title=Drift Themes |url=https://slowmassmusic.bandcamp.com/album/drift-themes-2 |website=Bandcamp |access-date=27 November 2024 |date=March 22, 2024}}</ref>
On March 5th, 2025, the band announced their second studio album ''Low on Foot'', due out May 16th. The announce was accompanied by a music video for the lead single "Hogtied", directed by Marisa Dabice of the band Mannequin Pussy.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kamiński |first1=Karol |title=SLOW MASS expand their sonic landscape with "Low on Foot" |url=https://idioteq.com/slow-mass-expand-their-sonic-landscape-with-low-on-foot/ |website=IDIOTEQ |access-date=7 March 2025 |date=March 5, 2025}}</ref> The album features guest contributions from Nnamdï, Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos), Jon Nuñez (Torche), Macie Stewart (Finom) and more.
==Band members== '''Current line-up'''<ref>{{citation |title=Slow Mass - Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/slowmassmusic/ |website=Instagram |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref><ref>{{citation |title=Slow Mass - Bandcamp |url=https://slowmassmusic.bandcamp.com |website=Bandcamp |access-date=27 November 2024}}</ref> * Dave Collis – vocals, guitar <small>(2015–present)</small> * Joshua Sparks – drums <small>(2015-2017, 2018–present)</small> * Joshua Parks – guitar <small>(2015–present)</small> * Mercedes Webb - vocals, bass, synth <small>(2015–present)</small> * Evan Bernard - guitar <small>(touring 2017-2019, 2020–present)</small> * Sean Hallock - drums <small>(touring 2019, 2020–present)</small> * Emma McCall - guitar <small>(touring 2021, 2024–present)</small> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Contributors''' * David Maruzzella - drums <small>(2017-2018)</small> * Dylan Nadon - drums <small>(touring 2020)</small> * Ryan Packard - vibraphone <small>(session 2015–present, live 2018)</small>
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==Discography==
'''Studio albums''' *''On Watch'' <small>(2018)</small> *''Low on Foot'' <small>(2025)</small>
'''EPs''' *''Treasure Pains'' <small>(2016)</small> *''Drift Themes'' <small>(2024)</small>
'''Singles''' *''Music for Ears 1'' <small>(2019)</small> *''Music for Ears 2'' <small>(2020)</small> *''Music for Ears 3'' <small>(2020)</small>
'''Miscellaneous''' * ''Music for Rest'' <small>(2020)</small>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Musical groups from Chicago