Kent’s favourite two-piece punk provocateurs, Slaves are back with their first new material since the release of their top-ten album, ‘Acts of Fear and Love’. The band dropped ‘The Velvet Ditch’ EP on the 18th of July following a premiere of ‘One More Day Won’t Hurt’ on Annie Mac’s Radio 1 show.
The EP sees the band showcasing the two sides of their collective personality. Side 1 is a balls-to-the-wall display of the band’s more aggressive tendencies, ‘One More Day Won’t Hurt’ starts with a Thrash Metal-inspired riff which descends into a heavy mid-paced groove, with Isaac roaring over a thundering beat, while ‘It Makes Me Sick’ shows the influence of breakneck hardcore punk, such as Minor Threat, the Casualties and Discharge.
Side 2 finds the duo in a more contemplative mood. The EP’s title track has Laurie strumming out a slow, acoustic blues line while Isaac laments the commercialisation of our culture in a style akin to Baxter Dury. ‘When Will I Learn’ on the other hand is new territory, a plaintive piano ballad showing the band in a more vulnerable light.
“The Velvet Ditch is four songs from four different corners of our band.” Laurie explains. “This EP was us approaching small town mentality, destructive behavioural patterns, and the mental cycles that can be such a struggle for us all to break. The dark recesses within all our minds and how to keep them at bay is what we were exploring through these different styles of music.”
Following the release of their critically acclaimed third top ten album, Acts of Fear and Love, last year, Isaac Holman (drums, vocals) and Laurie Vincent (guitar, vocals) have been bringing their rowdy anthems to the people in a joyous, celebration of big riffs, big beats and even bigger choruses. Following their storming Other stage performance at Glastonbury, the rest of the summer will see them smashing up festival stages with sets at Latitude, Truck Festival and Boardmasters, before they head out on a headline tour in December, culminating in 3 nights at London ULU.
Headline Dates
07.12.19 – The Dome – Brighton
09.12.19 – Parr Hall – Warrington
10.12.19 – QMU – Glasgow
12.12.19 – ULU – London
13.12.19 – ULU – London
14.12.19 – ULU – London
