Late to the Party: SLÜGFÜT - "III"
"SLÜGFÜT?! What's that?" I hear you ask.
Well, let's begin by setting the scene...
"Birthed from a primordial mire of fuzzy rock, glistening in the blackening sunlight of day, crawling to the melodious shore upon a mighty molluscal appendage, somehow brandishing instruments and screaming as they go, SLÜGFÜT arise!
...Book us for funerals?"
Sounds pretty rad, right?
And I too am screaming and kicking myself for missing the band's gorgeous debut EP, III, when it dropped on June 3, 2024. Barely a minute into the first song, I found myself thoroughly smitten with the band's sound. By the final note, I was saying out loud, "Why are we not talking about this? Why aren't we talking about this all the time?" While it's true that there are only three songs to be had here, you'll have to trust me when I say that these three tracks not only cover a lot of ground, but will grab you by your proverbial FÜT and take you on a journey that's filled with delightful sonic textures, melody, intrigue, and just a dash of darkness.
III
1. Apogee of Sin
This opening song has a very retro garage sound that grooves and struts about in such a way, I can't help but be reminded of the glam and proto-punk/metal acts of the mid 70s. The vocals are very impressive with their remarkable adaptability and add greatly to the vintage sound here.
2. I Am The Knife
I Am The Knife is so hypnotically smooth, particularly in its chorus, as it cruises along with an utterly addictive ebb and flow. Texture is added with the dark, gravelly tone the vocals take on in the verses, aided by the deliciously fuzzy guitar.
3. Ever and Ever
This song really breaks out the stoner/desert groove as we know and love it, while maintaining those gloriously melodic vocals. Melodic though they are, there's often something sinister and a bit dark in their tone, which becomes more and more evident as the EP progresses. Ever and Ever is also abound with wailing, triumphant guitar, booming and crashing percussion, and some very keen bass.
Final Thoughts
My favorite thing about SLÜGFÜT'S music is its contrasting timbres. As touched upon earlier, this results in a sonic ride that coasts over both smooth and rough roads. The fuzz factor and insanely versatile vocals are primarily what take the steering wheel when it comes to navigating these routes, while the bass and percussion skillfully adapt to the terrain, the infallible glue that holds the whole thing together. I also adore the undercurrents of both retro and dark tones, further adding to the complexity and intrigue of this lovely EP.
More than anything, and perhaps most importantly, SLÜGFÜT'S music is simply captivating. Its hooky choruses and compelling verses come together to create bona fide ear worms (ear slugs?) that you'll happily allow to reside in your brain. Invariably, I was singing and moving along to each of these three songs by the second chorus, and if that's not a substantiation of a quality, feel-good tune, I'm not sure what is. I absolutely cannot wait to see what the future holds for this awesome band.
...
So, now that you're invested, what can you do to show SLÜGFÜT some gastropodic love? Support them on Bandcamp and give them a like and follow on social media, for starters. Of course, one of the best ways to support your favorite underground bands is to show your smiling face at a gig. In fact, the SLÜGFATHER himself demands it:
"The SLÜGFATHER decrees that you shall enjoy the music, and demands that you come a show and put your FÜT in the air when SLÜGFÜT makes the loud noises."
I am moderately intimidated, but my intrigue greatly surpasses my fear. So, if you find yourself in Sheffield, check out SLÜGFÜT, and get that FÜT in the air, as high as you can!
More About SLÜGFÜT
SLÜGFÜT is:
Jackson McLean -Vocals and Guitars
Michael Nunn - Guitars
Lewis Spindler- Bass
TJ Fairfax - Drums
You can follow SLÜGFÜT and listen to their music at the following links:
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