Formed in Kent in 2022, a murky, anguished blight upon the so-called ‘Garden Of England’, Iron Slug have become an established presence on the UK’s doom scene. With a single-minded sense of intent and an array of irresistible riffs they have pounded their way into the consciousness of those drawn to the low, slow and oppressive. After two coruscating EPs – 2024s Debauched And Bored and Unrepentant Grin – both warmly received by fans and critics alike, the band are now ready to unveil their full-length debut of unrepentant doom. Featuring five mammoth tracks of backbreaking heaviness that each seem to stretch out into eternity, but at the same time never feel a second too long, Deceit And Misery has arrived.
The album begins with the seething, menacing guitars of ‘A Calming Turmoil’, the song gathering itself in a slow building of purpose, before settling into a relentless, methodical groove. When the strong, imposing vocals arrive their measured, melodic timbre adds a sense of gravitas that just increases the momentous weight of the music. ‘Love Retires Under Night’ descends in an avalanche of Sabbath-style riffing and gradually digs down deeper into the darkness than Iron Slug’s progenitors ever delved. This is raw, sludge-touched doom, stripped of all artifice, flayed to the bone and bleeding bitter emotion; its hypnotic, grinding heaviness carrying you to the indistinct boundaries between the waking world and the void of dreamless sleep. First single, ‘Graceless Bodies’ and the stunning ‘Die The Same’ follow, both lifted to new heights by superb vocal performances – steeped in soulful melody and a hint of the desert’s endless dust. All of which leads us beneath the hammer of ‘Ritualistic Feeding’, a bleak, shuddering leviathan of a track whose every chord, drum beat and fiercely enunciated syllable is delivered with meaning and might. Deceit And Misery is a bellowed statement of intent, a giant stride taken and a revelation of both immediate power and burgeoning potential. Iron Slug have arrived, in no uncertain terms.
Produced by long-term collaborator Jason Frye (Allfather, Jøtnarr, Erth Altr etc), Deceit And Misery sounds gritty and textured, tactile yet abrasive and imbued with rich depth of spirit. Meanwhile, the intensity of emotion generated by the unrelenting songs and fiercely focussed performances has been perfectly captured in the striking artwork of Black Crow White (Death Island, Extinction A.D., Nuclear Desolation etc). Iron Slug have created a raw, hard-hitting album that connects deeply with the essence of doom and when it hits the streets on March 27th via Road To Masochist, on 12” vinyl and CD formats, the impact will be seismic.
Follow Iron Slug on Facebook
Visit the Road To Masochist website
Follow Road To Masochist on Facebook
