In 1996 the band distributed a five song demotape, and in April 1997 released an EP entitled Amusing the Amazing through the record label Malicious Vinyl. According to interviews, Garcia claimed that the band also intended to record a full-length album. Slo Burn toured with Ozzfest in 1997 but decided to split up in September, towards the end of the tour. John Garcia subsequently joined the equally short-lived band Unida, before becoming vocalist with Hermano, who have since recorded three studio albums.
Slo Burn had a sound not dissimilar to that of latter-day Kyuss, which can be attributed to Garcia's singing style and the production work of Chris Goss. However, the music was more direct and less layered or complex. Allmusic describes their style as "simple structures formed out of monolithic rhythm guitars" with "guitar solos that come and go and vibrate weirdly on the way.
July
Slo Burn Lyrics
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The heats on you& can you stand
The flowers dead, all in your head
You are my wave, you cannot save
July July
We can try to erase the pain it's all time high
In the thick of the solid flame i can wash that pain aside
And when dawn would end the same I found the ride of rides
July July July July
You want it, You need it, You steal it, kill just to be there
Now revealed by the hope of a stray
It's a played out scene
Under circles of black you'll say
Is this all I'll see?
As the contrast fades to grey
Solid heat will burn and clean
So the end of the ride is today
Well, I'll fold this hand cause it's ...
July July July July
You want it, you need it, you steal it, kill just to be there
The song "July" by Slo Burn features dark and cryptic lyrics that appear to be describing the struggle of an individual who has lost control over their life. The opening lines "So play your dead an all-time rhyme, the heat's on you, and can you stand" suggest that the pressure is mounting on the individual, and they are struggling to cope. The line "the flowers dead, all in your head" may be alluding to the fact that the individual's thoughts and feelings are causing them to feel helpless and detached from reality.
Throughout the song, the recurring line "July, July" acts as a refrain, perhaps symbolizing a sense of time passing and the individual's inability to hold onto it. The lyrics "we can try to erase the pain, it's all-time high, and I'll cry to the flag train we ignore that sigh" suggest a desire for escape from the pain and hardships of life, but ultimately feeling trapped and helpless. The line "you are my wave, you cannot save" may indicate that the individual has become consumed by their own problems and cannot save themselves.
The final lines of the song, "Now revealed by the hope of a stray, it's a played-out scene, under circles of black you'll say, is this all I'll see?" may be referencing an individual's desperation for hope or salvation, but ultimately realizing that their situation is bleak and helpless. The song overall appears to be a portrayal of an individual's struggle with their own internal demons and the overwhelming nature of life's challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
So play your dead an all time rhyme
Recite something that is tired and cliched
The heats on you& can you stand
You are under pressure and must endure it
The flowers dead, all in your head
You are focusing on something that is no longer relevant
You are my wave, you cannot save
You are something I cherish, but I cannot protect you
July July
A call to action or a signal of change
We can try to erase the pain it's all time high
We can attempt to forget the extreme pain we are experiencing
And I'll cry to the flag train we ignore that sigh
I will lament the fact that we are not paying attention to the warning signals
In the thick of the solid flame i can wash that pain aside
Despite difficulties, I can still find comfort
And when dawn would end the same I found the ride of rides
After going through hardships, I found something amazing
July July July July
The sense of transformation or renewal continues
You want it, You need it, You steal it, kill just to be there
You will do whatever it takes to be a part of it
Now revealed by the hope of a stray
Something unexpected led to a discovery
It's a played out scene
A situation that has run its course
Under circles of black you'll say
In the most difficult of circumstances, you may still utter something
Is this all I'll see?
Doubting the future or the present state of affairs
As the contrast fades to grey
As the situation becomes more difficult and challenging
Solid heat will burn and clean
The fire or passion that remains can also purify
So the end of the ride is today
The end is near and there is a sense of finality
Well, I'll fold this hand cause it's ...
I will abandon this because it is not worth it
July July July July
The call to action or transformation continues until the end
You want it, you need it, you steal it, kill just to be there
The intensity of desire will not subside even in difficult circumstances
Contributed by Jayce C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.