What makes Routine Breathing by Slaves notable?

The album received positive critical reception, with many reviewers highlighting its raw energy and lyrical depth. It helped Slaves carve out a niche in the post-hardcore genre, influencing subsequent acts while charting in various music rankings, showcasing their growing popularity. Routine Breathing is the second studio album by Slaves, released on January 1, 2015, following their debut, Through Art We Are All Equals. At this point in their career, the band was solidifying their sound and gaining traction within the post-hardcore scene, building on the momentum of their previous release and establishing a distinctive voice.

How many songs are on Routine Breathing?

Routine Breathing has 15 tracks, running approximately 51 minutes.

Routine Breathing

Slaves · 2015

51 min · 15 tracks · post-hardcore

An explosive blend of post-hardcore fervor and introspective lyrics, battling addiction and identity with relentless energy.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Drowning in My Addiction — This opener sets a tone for the album, blending frantic instrumentation with a powerful exploration of personal struggle that resonates throughout.
→
Who Saves the Savior — This track stands out for its contemplative lyrics questioning societal norms and self-identity, framed by an infectious chorus that captures the band's essence.
→
Why Fit in When You Can Stand Out? — With its defiant message and energetic delivery, this song embodies the album's central themes of individuality and rebellion against conformity.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

53 /100

Foothills

Higher than 40% of albums we've rated

The album combines energetic post-hardcore elements with introspective lyrics, making it distinct yet cohesive in its exploration of personal struggles.

What we noticed

The first half of the album features aggressive instrumentation and high-energy vocals, while the second half shifts to more introspective melodies and varied dynamics.
Lyrically, the album explores themes of addiction and identity, with many songs featuring conversational delivery that enhances their emotional weight.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 6/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

Who Saves the Savior

A pivotal moment occurs when the narrative shifts from external observation to internal reflection, questioning who supports those who lead others.

This shift deepens the emotional complexity of the song, moving beyond critique to explore vulnerability in leadership roles.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Drowning in My Addiction 2:49
2 As the Light Cracks the Foundation 3:22
3 The Hearts of Our Broken 3:17
4 Burning Our Morals Away 3:12
5 Who Saves the Savior 4:21
6 Share the Sunshine Young Blood, Pt. 2 3:13
7 Death Never Lets Us Say Goodbye 3:19
8 Running Through the !6! with My Soul 3:57
9 Winter Everywhere 3:28
10 Why Fit in When You Can Stand Out? 3:10
11 Shoutout to All My Toasters 3:21
12 Is Robbing Your Friends Supposed to Be Tight? 3:01
13 "One God" 4:21
14 We Are So Michelle Branch 3:35
15 If Only We Could Change 2:43

What to play next

Listen next

Beautiful Death

2018

Go back to

Through Art We Are All Equals

2014

Full Slaves discography Artists like Slaves

post-hardcore

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata