Album Review: Slung – In Ways (Fat Dracula)

Brighton rock band Slung’s debut album ‘In Ways’ is a collaborative combustion of its members’ experiences, circumstances and supreme musicianship. It will be released on May 2nd, 2025, via Fat Dracula.

A very imaginative listen with some really unique takes on different styles of rock, Slung have a head turner of an album on offer here. A dynamic record with plenty of body shaking groove, intensity, and melodrama, blended strongly with smart and interesting story-telling. Al of which can be experienced with mighty aplomb on the first three tracks, and then some.

First, we have the energised opener Laughter, which has vocals that alternate between a smooth, ethereal style and punk-infused shouts. The ending to this track, the tempo switch and crooning, is fab. Then there is something a bit moodier, psychedelic, and daring with Class A Cherry. Before Come Apart delivers lovely melody, some of the album’s best vocals, and one hell of a rocked-up end.

Seriously, the first part of the album is great, and the creativity just keeps on flowing as Collider’s robust bass sound gels well with powerful vocals and guitars that have a bit of psych twang to them. A personal favourite all because of how thick the instruments sound.

With heart-racing groove and bursts of punk-infused vitality, Matador keeps the excitement at a high point. The chorus of this one is chaotic sounding. Whereas Limassol has a grungy flavour and is so damn infectious all because of the stunning vocals. It’s come up a lot, but let it be known that Katie Oldham is one of the most talented vocalists in the scene, delivering very impactful lyrics.

Honestly, the more time spent with this album, the more you’ll find yourself falling in love with it. It’s so creative, so varied, and so interesting. Slung really do stand out as something different in the rock world, and that is so exciting.

Good vibes, even with something as dramatically moody as Heavy Duty, one of the most beautiful tracks of all. The power of its ending is gobsmacking. Good vibes, even with the one track that doesn’t quite have a hook, Thinking About It. A track that still has danceable qualities, none the less, and good vibes, even with a short bit of haunting melody (the title track), and the sobering honesty of Nothing Left’s lyrical content. Something that bleeds into the finale of Falling Down, Slung (in particular vocalist Katie) at their most honest sounding.

It’s the kind of authenticity that will connect to a wide variety of listeners, especially as the music combines solemn moodiness with defiant stances and the power that can come from difficult times. Incredible, but if you’ve made it to the end of the album, you already know that. Slung are special, this album is special, and the journey they’re about to go on as more people hear their incredible efforts, is going to be very freaking special.

Slung – In Ways Track Listing:

1. Laughter
2. Class A Cherry
3. Come Apart
4. Collider
5. Matador
6. Limassol
7. Heavy Duty
8. Thinking About It
9. In Ways
10. Nothing Left
11. Falling Down

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