BIMM student Lacey Wait shines a spotlight on up-and-coming Brighton band Slag
Brighton-based five piece Slag are exactly what your ears (and eyes) have been craving. With a name that turns heads and a sound that defies genres, they’re not just reclaiming the word but rewriting the rulebook – and people are starting to notice.
These guys have a rather on-brand origin story. Formed during the university’s Freshers’ Week after a fated rock-paper-scissors showdown for the final guitarist spot, Slag’s inception is just as chaotic and charming as their music.
Since then, they’ve been unstoppable in honing a sound like no other. It’s visceral, erratic alt-rock with a mathy edge – brimming with unpredictable guitar riffs, strange time signatures and a volatile freedom. If you’re struggling to imagine such sounds, think Feeble Little Horse, Momma, and The Fall of Troy. This outcast-superstar energy is the kind that Slag relate to. But, ultimately, they don’t pertain to a predetermined sound. “We’re not trying to fit a box,” they explain. “We just make what feels good.”
Despite their tongue-in-cheek aesthetic, there’s nothing frivolous about what they do. Their set at Patterns for BIMM Brighton’s Refreshers, promoted by EmK Productions, was a masterclass in mayhem, where they somehow prompted slow dancing and legit mosh pits to exist in the same space.
Their live shows are truly an encapsulating experience: colourful and packed with atmosphere. As underscored by their admirable self-confidence – “Expect sexy people on stage” – yes, but also an authentic sense of fun, freedom and contrast. It’s all part of the act – an endearing caricature of the ‘slag’ trope, flipped on its head with cleverness and care.
Slag more recently tore up The Hope & Ruin, supporting fellow Brighton legends Bones Ate Arfa, where they debuted a new single so strong it might just top their last. It’s not out yet, but you can catch it live – and you should. They’ve much on the horizon too, with more gig and festival appearances than you can count on one hand, and hopes for an EP later this year.
If you don’t get it, that’s on you. But Slag are here, they’re loud and they’re making the beautiful chaos count.
