Doomed Confessionary: Jana Kremace (Slať)
Photo by Jens J. J.
Slať is a doom/sludge/stoner metal band hailing from Brno, Czech Republic. Formed in 2021 in the lively underground of Brno, the band’s line-up includes current and former members of well-known acts like Gospel Of The Future, Nikander, and Kandar. Slať are Kremace on vocals, Koffin on guitar, Dáda on bass & vocals and Denny on drums.
A successful debut demo from the same year set the direction for the band’s future. It was only a matter of time before the paths of Doomentia Records and Slať would inevitably cross. They released their much anticipated debut album »Elegie Propastná« on November 22nd, 2024.
Slať means “peat bog” in Czech and the album »Elegie Propastná« brings a proper mud bath. The quartet takes you on a thoroughly dismal and harrowing ride with a slow pace of traditional doom metal and a touch of more accessible stoner rock progressions, while also drowning you in icy waves of sludge. Slať will pull you in with powerful Sabbath-esque riffs and won’t let go. Haunting female vocals are the icing on the cake. Sometimes unbridled, sometimes eerily pure, as if hanging on to the last minutes of life. The sound of Slať is as heavy as the arrival of a biblical cataclysmic wave that will bury all those who refuse to sway to the beat in ecstasy.
Can you say a few words about your band?
We founded the band with the aim of continuing heavy, sludgy music. After the split of the previous band in 2020, we wanted to try something different – development that would allow us to cover new areas of expression. Each member focuses on different styles of music, from grindcore through deathmetal to psychedelic and electronic music. Still, we definitely like to push it hard.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
The start was a bit difficult as it took some time to complete our band, we had to search and find the right members. It was challenging, but it was worth waiting for everyone to come together. When we decided to form the new band, Covid was hitting hard for the first time. On one hand, it was good because people might have been more hungry for new experiences and bands, but on the other hand, the isolation took its toll, and it was a dark time. Who knows if, and how, it influenced our music.
What can you be most proud of so far?
All the concerts we made included various issues on the way – either health-related, van related, bike related, fatalistic, meaning of life related.. a bit of a joke, but you get the idea.
Finalizing the album was important to us because without a proper LP, it would have been very difficult to move things forward. So, we’re still alive and ready for new material to be born.
What was your biggest regret?
Everyone might regret something but it is important to grow along the way. So, rather than regret, I would say we grew through the journey, I hope – whether we made mistakes or not.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
It’s always precious to meet people who are full of life – those who promote concerts and are involved in various activities and experiences, regardless of obstacles like municipal issues or financial struggles. That’s worth more than just providing a list of the best places. I’d say it always enlightens me when I meet kind, humble people who do what they do without putting themselves on a pedestal.
Photo by Tomáš Škoda
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
It is refreshing to see a lot of talented people around us whether it is the stoner Sloth, the thrashy Mörghuul, or the slowcore whyowhy. Brno is full of surprises and really interesting new things are happening here lately.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Toadliquor – Back In The Hole
Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere
Darkthrone – It Beckons Us All
Thou – Umbilical
High On Fire – Cometh The Storm
Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean – Sisyphean Cruelty
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
To be persistent, not to give up easily. It could be hard sometimes, and yes, things can get unpleasant, dirty and exhausting.
And these are my words: Sometimes I feel I’ll die before or after a gig, but here I am, still alive. It takes time, a pretty dosage of dedication and hard work within the stoner or metal diy scene. Without passion, there would be many hardships along the way – ups and downs – but these can quickly be neutralized by the satisfaction you feel when you experience the energy and pass it on to others.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Right now, I am watching Indian movies with feminist plots. Before it was documentaries about caving or diving disasters. Stupid obsession. In music it can be definitely 80’s electronic stuff, anything glittery from 70’ and probably everything glittery and leathery nowadays.
Photo by Tomáš Škoda
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Brno?
As mentioned before, a lot of nice venues are working hard to survive, so I appreciate all the work they do and how they are enriching local communities. It is easy to jump on a train to Prague or Vienna, or elsewhere but I need to admit that a lot of interesting gigs happened here this year, from High On Fire to Pharmakon, or to all the smaller and precious events.
Where can we see you live soon (concerts/tours)?
Now we are discussing possibilities where to guide the tour, gigs over Europe would be nice but let’s see how we will manage it. It is good to stay on the ground and be practical, I hope we will be able to plan it.
What are your plans for the future as a band?
To create new stuff, play some shows, and let’s see what happens next. Some fun along the way, I hope.
How can people best support your band?
Come to our shows, listen to our music and spread a word about us. If you feel something when listening to us, that’s the most satisfying thing ever. If it’s not some completely shitty feeling, or even that might be enough. Puke emotions out. And of course, buy our stuff, buying stuff, like if we would have done it for money.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
These are challenging times, it is important to stay together and to invest in people around us. Sounds easier than it is but sometimes small acts of kindness can do a job. Music can heal a lot, so use its superpower as well.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well