SLIK TOXIK – Rare 1991 Footage Of “Rachel’s Breathing” Performance At Toronto’s HMV Megastore Posted

The just released clip below features Canadian rockers Slik Toxik performing the song “Rachel’s Breathing” at the HMV Megastore on Yonge St. in Toronto, Ontario in the fall of 1991. This was a performance for their debut EP release, Smooth & Deadly.

Slik Toxik formed in October of 1988 by singer/songwriter Nick Walsh, lyricist Dave Mercel and guitarists Rob Bruce and Kevin Gale. They had all played together previously in various combinations but it was at this time Nick brought them all together as a unit. As a songwriting team they showed immediate promise, but it was with the subsequent addition of bassist Pat Howarth and drummer Neal Busby that the band coalesced into a potent creative force.

Perris Records has released what they’ve dubbed the 20 Something Anniversary re-issue of Slik Toxik’s Irrelevant album.

Irrelevant is the third release and second full length album by Canadian hard rock band Slik Toxik. The album was originally released in 1994 during a turbulent time for hard rock. This was a time when the airwaves and magazines were being bombarded with the advent of alternative, grunge and pop groups.

After the release of their debut CD Doin’ the Nasty selling well over 50,000 units in Canada (Gold status) and receiving the Juno Award (Canadian Grammy) for Hard Rock Album Of The Year, the climate in the music industry started to change.

“It was a crazy time for us, as we like so many other rockers were in a state flux,” recalls Walsh. “We were in a darker place.”

Met with critical acclaim, this eclectic collection of songs has been touted by some critics as being ahead of its time with hard hitting de-tuned riffs, snarly vocals and bombastic drumming. The band went on to only having a Canadian release with this recording and touring across Canada multiple times before calling it quits and going their separate ways in 1995.

“Dive” and “Twenty Something” were released as singles and videos. The album was recorded in Toronto at Phase One Studios again with producer Paul Gross at the helm.

Check out “Twenty Something” below:

The Irrelevant re-issue tracklisting is below.

“Twenty Something”
“Kill The Pain”
“Voodoo”
“Drained”
“I Wanna Gun”
“Liquid Calm”
“Fashioned After None”
“Dive”
“Blue Monday”
“Mother Machine”
“Just Fade Away”
“White Lies/Black Truth” (’89 demo)

Slik Toxik’s cover of the Sex Pistols classic “EMI” which appeared on the original version of Irrelevant does not appear on the re-issue.