Chicago’s Slow Mass are set to release their second full-length album, Low on Foot, on May 16 via Landland Colportage. Following 2018’s On Watch, the new record signals a shift—broader in scope, heavier in execution, and more fluid in composition. Lead single “Hogtied” offers an early glimpse, balancing sharp indie rock hooks with layered, expressive vocals from bassist Mercedes Webb.
The track, which features guest harmonies from Macie Stewart (Finom), comes with a video directed by Marisa Dabice of Mannequin Pussy.
Since their 2015 formation, Slow Mass has maintained an evolving lineup, now a seven-piece unit with members spread across the country. The collaborative nature of Low on Foot is evident, featuring contributions from musicians like NNAMDï, Jon Nuñez (Torche), and Nick Reinhart (Tera Melos).
Recorded in Chicago with Scott Evans (Kowloon Walled City, Sumac, Thrice), the album presents a contrast of dynamic extremes—crushingly heavy moments, intricate pop-infused melodies, and stark, introspective passages.
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Much of the album was written intermittently between 2016 and 2021, marking a long creative process that allowed the band to refine their approach. The result feels deliberate, not just in songwriting but in sound design, with each track pushing against the framework of post-hardcore, indie rock, and noise-driven experimentation.
Low on Foot arrives following years of steady output, including the Music for Ears series and 2024’s Drift Themes, both of which saw Slow Mass strip back their aggressive tendencies in favor of more meditative compositions. The new record, however, pulls their full range of influences back into focus, positioning the band as one willing to navigate between subtlety and overwhelming force.
The band will tour in support of Low on Foot, beginning in May with stops in Minneapolis and Chicago, followed by a July run through the Midwest alongside Edhochuli.
