Following the release of their debut EP, ‘BUFFOON’, midnight of the 24th June saw the surprise release of Leeds based clown-metal band SLAPPSTIKK’s latest single, ‘Miserable Business’.

SLAPPSTIKK made their way into the Leeds music scene in March of last year, following their first gig at The Society. Since then they have frequented venues such as The Key Club, Wharf Chambers and The Primrose, as well as recently coming off a tour of Northern England just a year after they debuted, playing venues in Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle and Hull.

Alongside this tour came the release of their first EP. ‘BUFFOON’ perfectly blended technically skillful melodies with the intense aggression of the instrumentation. The lead single ‘Infinite Jest’ layered slow, almost operatic vocals, over the top of a frantic drum beat and unrelenting instrumental line, instantly clueing the listener in on the feeling of this EP, and the band in general.

‘Miserable Business’, continues this theme of melodic riffs alongside a frenzied drum beat and powerful production. This a shorter release, with a run time of just over two minutes, however the listener is not left unsatisfied. This song is a masterclass in compressing music to its necessary length by including all that is needed without dragging anything on. Even the repeated refrain of, “I’m gonna dip my nuts in boiling oil”, that the track opens on, doesn’t feel as though it is drawn out within the context of the rest of the song.

Vocally, this track feels as though it signals a stronger turn into straight up metal, with the signature gut wrenching screams of the genre, and a much raspier undertone to the voice of the lead singer. Where previously the vocals could almost be described as theatrical, this song has a far different feel to it. The chorus simply consists of anguished screams, that towards the end devolves into a middle eight featuring ambulance sirens and a symphony of cries from members of the band. This change in vocal style could indicate a larger change in future releases that I for one will be looking out for.

‘Miserable Business’ stands out against SLAPPSTIKK’s already incredible discography as a possible turning point, and gets listeners excited for what is to come next. They have a busy summer, with the next opportunity to see them live in Leeds being on the 18th July at The Pack Horse. I would recommend going along to hear all your favourite tunes, as well as listening out for new material to get hooked to.

Review from Laoise Morgan – @laoisemorgann