Picture yourself in the middle of a swaying, sweaty mob of pogoing punk rockers. The mosh pit is growing larger as the jagged, urgent and breathless music fills the void between silence and boredom. You look up and see Sløtface (pronounced Slutface in a delicious example of the classic punk ethos of shock and appall) flicking the V sign at the establishment with their exciting brand of political and social commentary.
That is what Sorry For The Late Reply is. A strong and sharp open letter to capitalists, anti-feminists and the stuffy establishment. The latest album is a head-strong dive into the fuzzy buzz of Wire or the straight-forward sense of satisfaction that is straight out of Elastica.
Norway is usually renowned for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and aquavit, for fjords and picturesque cruises through the crystal-clear waters of Scandinavia. This is a different side to the country- Sløtface screw up the rule book, throw it in the nearest lake and rip the chords to shreds.
‘Luminous’ reminds me of something you’d hear from Letters to Cleo or Sunflower Bean- a ripping and gripping ride through radical ideas from a strong, female lead. The texture of the music is the Runaways meets the Pixies with a large helping of the political savviness that the Clash made their trademark. The anger and indignance cut through the charged supply of electricity, the want for equality and the battle over climate issues are highlighted in pop-punk polemic. It’s a corker.
What was that about the pogoing punk rockers? These are different. Only slightly, though. The choking rage of the Sex Pistols is still alive and kicking, transmitted through a Stavanger band with a point to make. Gone is the spitting at each other and whacking each other with big bike chains but the righteous riot of raucousness remains. It’s not politics – its sink or swim.
I expected something of a Blondie/Paramore crossover but, what I got was a different entity in itself- a loud and proud postcard to equality, a manic and voluptuous manifesto of anarchy. I thought I would be getting soft verges but, in the end, got the hard shoulder. And I liked it. It means rebellion. It is pride. It will always be the voice of it’s generation.
Haiku Review:
When life gives you grief
Point it at suburbia
And give it some truth.
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