Blood makes noise

Chicago-based band Slow Mass just released a new song called “Freeze Frame,” which is now available on all streaming platforms. It’s the third single from their upcoming album Low on Foot, set to be released on May 16, 2025, through Landland Colportage.

Slow Mass has been around for nearly ten years, mixing emotional, loud, and soft styles of rock. Their new song is a quiet and powerful track with deep vocals and layered sounds. Bassist and vocalist Mercedes Webb says it’s about the way we think about ourselves as we grow up—how we try to accept who we are while still wishing we could change.

“Freeze Frame” follows two earlier songs from the album: “Blur,” which features artists NNAMDï and Jon Nuñez from the band Torche, and “Hogtied,” which had a music video directed by Marisa Dabice of Mannequin Pussy.

The band will also begin a U.S. tour starting May 23 in Minneapolis. They'll play two nights in their hometown of Chicago on May 24 and 25. More shows are scheduled through July, with the last stop on July 27 in Pontiac, Michigan.

Low on Foot is Slow Mass’s first full-length album in seven years. The band wrote it between 2016 and 2021. Since then, the band has grown to seven members and worked with new producers and guest musicians, including Nick Reinhart from Tera Melos and Macie Stewart from Finom. The album was recorded in Chicago with producer Scott Evans, known for his work with SUMAC and Thrice.

Band member Dave Collis shared that many songs are about personal loss. One is about his mother, a social worker who was unfairly let go from her job. Another talks about his father, an architect pushed into early retirement.

Slow Mass makes music that feels honest and thoughtful. They’re not afraid to be quiet, loud, or somewhere in between. Fans of emotional rock and creative songwriting should keep an eye on this band.