Like Lionrock and the Chemical Brothers, Slab are a Brit-hop outfit who've made the decision to not decide between guitars and synthesizers, combining the two in raucous, decidedly un-subtle ways. Formed by Nina Walsh and Lol Hammond in 1995, the group combine dirty, distorted breaks, bubbling acid lines, guitar blasts, and bits of dub, techno, and rave in simple-but-effective amalgams of cheap thrills and electric bombast. To date, the group has released three EPs and a compilation/mini-album on the Hydrogen Dukebox label and been remixed by the likes of Monkey Mafia, Carl Cox, and Sabres of Paradise/2 Lone Swordsmen's Andrew Weatherall. The last is a connection worth expanding upon; in addition to Slab, Nina Walsh is the force behind Sabrettes, an underling imprint to Weatherall's Sabres of Paradise empire, and released a number of popular EPs from the likes of Inky Blacknuss, Innersphere, and Turbulent Force. Lol Hammond is a former member of popular U.K. tribal/techno group the Drum Club, which he left in 1995 to focus on Slab. Both Walsh and Hammond are accomplished instrumentalists, and the group's live show is one of the most integrated (i.e., in terms of electronics and acoustics) on the U.K. scene. Slab's mini-LP Freeky Speed was reissued domestically in 1996 by Sm:)e Communications. ~ Sean Cooper, All Music Guide
Slab is a mutant villain who is recruited by Mister Sinister to be part of his Nasty Boys and was the first team member to attack their nemesis, the government sponsored X-Factor team. Slab climbs to the top of the Washington Monument and calls Strong Guy out to fight him, and they battle. When Slab shrinks to normal size to duck a punch, he causes Strong Guy to shatter and destroy the monument. Slab's battle is aided off-scenes by Senator Stephen Shaffran, who has the mutant power to cause others to suffer bad luck.
Slab was captured along with his teammate Hairbag and taken to a holding cell by X-Factor. While he waits for his lawyer to negotiate bail, Slab and Hairbag are broken out of prison by the Mutant Liberation Front (of which Slab's sister Thumbelina is a member). He is returned to the Nasty Boys shortly afterwards. Slab has not been seen since the group's subsequent breakup. It is unknown if Slab retained his mutant powers after the M-Day.
Powers and abilities
Slab can augment his size and mass to increase in strength and resistance to physical injury.