2017 marks the band’s 14th anniversary and they’re kicking off the year with a new EP, entitled ‘The Wail’ – a five track release – partnering the 2nd EP, ‘Sirens’, due for release at the end of 2017. Both EPs will be released individually, and will ultimately form part of a full-length LP release.
‘The ‘Wail’ is a snapshot of a very intense time for the band – having had to wade through death, divorce, loss and other fun personal adventures between 2014 and 2016. The band wrote and pre-produced all the material for the two EPs in a very concentrated time between March and June 2015. 14 songs were conceived and hammered out during the winter of 2015, while mixing and post production happened between the rigorous gigging of 2016.
2015 saw long-time Slashdogs bassist and key songwriter Henk Lustig announce his desire to leave the band in order to pursue travel and business interests in Australia – this meant that they had a short time to write as much as possible, and the urgency and vitriol is evident in these new songs. Much of what ended up as the album tracks were the original demo recordings – which include first passes on vocal, guitar, bass and drum tracks. The band loved the energy and intensity of those first takes and believes that they have truly captured that spirit on the EP.
“The Wail” is, in true Slashdogs fashion, another adroit turn from anything they’ve done before. At times heavier and more straight forward than previous releases, the EP also contains a cover of Susan Vega’s ‘In Liverpool’ – which may surprise a few – as well as a horn clad, punk/ska tribute to late friend and SA punk rock stalwart, George Bacon, who passed away tragically in 2015. This dedication, ‘Some Kind Of Heaven’, features a guest appearance from the Hog’s own Ross McDonald on horns.
This release is considered very special to the band as it finally features what they consider to be the “dream” lineup of long time drummer Leon ‘Mooiste’ Worst, bassist William ‘Big Willy’ Bishop, and their fiery young upstart Gianluca ‘George Lucas’ Tadiello on guitar.
You can listen to ‘The Wail’ EP below:
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