Slow Burn is the second studio album by American rock band Conquer Divide. The album was released on September 8, 2023, through Mascot Records. This is the first album to feature drummer Samantha Landa and last album to feature unclean vocalist and bassist Janel Duarte.
Contents
Overview
Prior to the signing, the band began recording for the second album. In March 2022, the band was signed to Mascot Records. Following the band's signing with the label, the first single, "Atonement" was released on March 28, 2022. The second single, "Paralyzed" was released on October 26, 2022. On May 11, 2023, the third single, "welcome2paradise" was released. The album title and the tracklist was unveiled on the same day through their social media accounts.
Themes and composition
Critics described the album as metalcore, alternative rock, and hard rock.
The album contains themes ranging from mental illness and depression to the environment. The song "Paralyzed" contains "battling with mental illness and depression — especially during the pandemic—and feeling like you are too mentally paralyzed to move forward.", as stated by guitarist Kristen Sturgis. Rocksound Magazine stated the song was "designed for arenas" and a "monster" (of a track), while Metalhammer Magazine stated "Conquer Divide are showing off their own capability for massive earworms with the ultra-addictive Paralyzed... the true MVP of Paralyzed is the absolutely enormous chorus".
Personnel
Conquer Divide
Kiarely Castillo – clean vocals
Janel Duarte – unclean vocals, bass, backing clean vocals
Kristen Sturgis – rhythm guitar, additional vocals (track 4)
Isabel "Izzy" Johnson – lead guitar, additional vocals (track 2)
Samantha Landa – drums
Additional musicians
EunYoung Lee – piano
Chris Parketny (of Attack Attack!) – guest vocals (track 14, Deluxe Edition only)
Additional personnel
Joey Sturgis – producer, executive producer, engineer, mastering, mixing
Nick Matzkows – engineering
Jon Eberhard – additional engineering
Bailey Zindel – artwork