Beginning with pummeling tom drums, Russian Baths‘ first single from the upcoming “Penance” EP could easily be a soundtrack to fleeing the titular Slenderman character. While the airy vocals emote almost plainly, the instrumentals jostle with each other to occasionally cacophonous peaks. At its calmest, “Slenderman” is a foreboding, gothic track but the noisy, feedback-laden guitars topple over in threatening outbursts that do justice to the fictional character’s horror legacy. Most startling about “Slenderman” is the calm portrayed in the vocals throughout it all. In another context the voice might be a soothing reassurance, but here it only adds to the tension. "Penance" is out February 23rd via Good Eye Records. – Cameron Carr
