Ancient History

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Above: (c) Ruby Henerson

Campbell “Slim” Jenkins is a multi disciplinary artist who has dedicated a 15 year career to the expression of “heavy music” through sound, art and video.

Slims story begins in April of 2006 taking to the stage for the first time as vocalist for Ōtautahi Christchurch metal outfit WITHOUT CONSTRAINT. Slim quickly gained a reputation for an unrivaled live energy born of a “leave it all on stage” attitude to performance that has become the mark of his trade. Combined with the bands high energy performance and professionalism, WITHOUT CONSTRAINT rapidly secured multiple support slots for local legends TAINTED and national heroes 8 FOOT SATIVA. WITHOUT CONSTRAINT released two singles, 4:16 which debuted on Paul “The Axe Man” Martin’s weekly metal show THE AXE ATTACK In July of 2006, followed by BRENSKI in July 2007.

Slim was approached in July of 2007 by fellow Ōtautahi Christchurch unit TAINTED to replace outgoing vocalist Justin “Jackhammer” Niessen and although Initially hesitant due to responsibilities to WITHOUT CONSTRAINT, Slim eventually agreed in the hope of pulling double duty. Unfortunately the split responsibilities eventually became too much for WITHOUT CONSTRAINT and its disbandment followed soon after.

Slims tenure with TAINTED spanned the next 8 years, seeing the crowning achievements of his musical career to date. 2008 saw Slims studio recording experince for TAINTEDs 2nd full length album, the 2008 release CARVED AND CREATED at YORK ST STUDIOS in Tamaki Makaurau Auckland.  Produced and mixed by CLINT MURPHY and mastered by RYAN SMITH at STERLING SOUND, CARVED AND CREATED saw the release of the singles Scar, DEPARTED and VENGEANCE. Three videos came from the album, two by by videographer RICHARD BELL for DEPARTED and VENGEANCE and another by AARON WALTER for  SAY WHAT YOU MEAN.

Consistent touring the length and breadth of Aotearoa New Zealand gained TAINTED a loyal following and a bullet proof reputation that had them become the go-to act to support international greats that visited New Zealand shores, among them METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, SEPULTURA, CHIMAIRA, FEAR FACTORY, TRIVIUM, BLACK DALIA MURDER, UNEARTH, ARCH ENEMY and PARKWAY DRIVE. That same reputation had TAINTED feature at festivals SOUTHERN AMP in 2007 and 2008 and the BIG DAY OUT in 2010.

TAINTED entered Ōtautahi Christchurch QUICKSAND studio in the summer of 2014/2015 to record their 3rd album INTO TEMPTATION, with CLINT MURPHY at the production and mixing helm once again and RYAN SMITH at STERLING SOUND mastering. INTO TEMPTATION saw the singles WORTHLESS, BLEED FOR ME and WITHIN THE CRUCIBLE where Slim himself took up the task of producing videos for BLEED FOR ME and WITHIN THE CRUCIBLE. INTO TEMPTATION peaked out at #4 on the IMNZ Album chart #10 on the OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHARTS NZ album chart,and #23 on the ITUNES metal album chart.  

After playing one last international support with HELL YEAH in winter of 2015, due to increasing family and work related commitments, TAINTED decided to go on indefinite hiatus

In the years after TAINTED, Slim decided to go on OE to live and work in the United Kingdom, residing first in Bristol and then Cardiff. It was during this time freed from the exhilarating yet confining environment of heavy metal that Slim began to formulate his next musical project.

A heavy bit of soul searching and study of the music he was actually vibing with brought him to the conclusion that although highly enjoyable to perform, Metal was not really featuring in the music he was listening to any more.  It was rap, hardcore punk and dark-wave indie pop that now filled his listening time.  Artists like DÄLEK, DEATHGRIPS, ONE DAY AS A LION, PHANTOGRAM, RAISED FIST and DANNY BROWN now inspired the urge to create. These were bands and artists he identified with as heavy, not in the traditional sense framed by the excesses of distortion and technicality frequent in Heavy Metal, but by their works emotional and sonic weight, it’s freedom to express across a broader spectrum of sound and emotion from whispered threats to deafening walls of saturated sound.

So out from the wilderness of a long hiatus, comes the eclectic new sonic expression of barely suppressed rage, SLIMIVICH, from this seasoned veteran of the Aotearoa New Zealand heavy music scene.

An entirely new direction, SLIMIVICH doesn’t explode like previous metal releases, it radiates and crackles with all the allure of overloaded high voltage circuits, glowing and arcing in the dark. From the chilling omen of haunted whispers , to the grueling punishment of grinding bass and searing  eruptive crescendo,  SLIMIVICH seeks to explore the varying textures of what should be considered “heavy” music.

Excited or repelled, fans will not fail to be impressed  by this reinterpretation of the same venom spitting Slim they came to know and love, or hate.

Call it alternative or experimental, call it industrial, or even call it GRIM-HOP, still, remember the name SLIMIVICH, No Chill.