Album Notes

Death by Salt II:
A SLUG Magazine Compilation

Death by Salt II, released March 3, 2006, is a double-disc offering of 42 Utah bands and is SLUG Magazine’s follow-up to 2004’s triple-CD local band comp. The quality of the tracks submitted this time was higher and the selection process more rigorous, making the final project even more polished, cohesive and stellar than before.

Death by Salt II is beautifully packaged in two silver tins with a wide connecting paper band. Inside, trading cards of each of the bands gives a visual image of each group along with a brief bio, local record label (if applicable) and contact information. Artwork for the comp was conceived and created by SLC artist Trent Call and graphics and design concepts were conceived and executed by Shon Taylor, owner of Bottlerocket Manufacturing.

The 42 bands on Death by Salt II cover many different genres, from math metal to garage rock to electronica to gritty blues. However, both discs are loosely separated for listening flow: The first disc contains harder rock music and the second disc generally catalogues the softer and more eclectic side of Salt Lake music.

The Utah music scene is one of the most unique in the nation due to its geographical isolation and outlaw/religious heritage. Largely cut off from the outside world and influenced most strongly by each other, local musicians spawn unique musical creations saturated with sincerity. The majority of Salt Lake musicians eschew ulterior motives; they make music in order to express themselves and to create an alternate world to the conservative culture that surrounds them.

SLUG (Salt Lake UnderGround) Magazine began in 1989 and just celebrated its 17th anniversary (which also doubled as the Death by Salt II release parties). SLUG is the oldest alternative publication in Utah and is one of the nation’s oldest zines that continues to publish regularly. It is also the only publication in Utah with music as its main focus, with some action sports coverage. SLUG distributes 25,000 issues monthly to coffee shops, CD stores, clubs, restaurants and “anyplace cool” all over Utah. SLUG also distributes to every college campus in Utah except Brigham Young University, and to several points in surrounding states.

SLUG hosts several dozen events each year, including monthly local band showcases, amateur skateboarding and snowboarding competitions, film contests, Sabbathon, a cabaret float in the SLC Gay Pride parade in 2005, and a shit-ton of cool parties (see website for event details).

In a world of increasing media conglomerates and information control, publications with independent, unfettered voices like SLUG have become more and more critical towards sustaining responsible, honest music news and vital alternative subcultures.

High-res color photos of select bands are available for download at www.slugmag.com (click on “Death by Salt”).

deathbysalt@slugmag.com • www.slugmag.com
SLUG Magazine, 351 W. Pierpont Ave. Ste. 4B, SLC, UT 84101 • Ph: 801.487.9221 • F: 801.487.1359