Initially the brainchild of bassist Vlad Matveikov, whilst he was living in Brighton, Slung were sometime in the making. He tells of randomly meeting guitarist Ali Johnson at a campground in Australia in 2009, falling in love with vocalist Katie Oldham during lockdown, and hearing a demo of drummer Ravi Martin’s old band in his other role running indie label Small Pond. The kernel of an idea for Slung began to germinate when Vlad’s previous band InTechnicolour disbanded, as he began to formulate new musical ideas, not knowing where they would lead him. These ideas led him to In Ways, Slung’s debut album, which is set to be released on May 2.
“Collider” is the latest single from Slung’s anticipated debut, and it’s an anthem we all could use right now. The band blends psychedelic tones with the heaviness of post-metal for a head-spinning display of their ever-evolving sonic palette. While the single touches on many different corners of rock music, how Slung marries these tropes together gives “Collider” its infectious, powerful nature. The vocal melodies slide over the dense production as easily with genre-defying ease, adding a touch of pop to the hard-rock onslaught. Those silk-lined vocals ease into the explosive hook with immense passion, miraculously keeping up with the face-melting drum patterns and neck-breaking guitar melodies. The arrangement on “Collider” is not here to be defined by subgenres and metaphors; it simply wants to rock. The drums dip in and out of sturdiness to provide a nice swing, while the guitars keep Slung’s feet planted in their love for heady garage rock. If Slung’s debut album is anywhere close to “Collider,” we’re in for a real treat. The band’s new single is a staggering example of their individuality and just how much they’re willing to stretch the limits of their own imagination.
