Slump

Despite the eclectic bill second band Slump are not too dissimilar to the first. Stoner rock with a heavy Black Sabbath influence. You can here the vibrant Iommi-esc riffs oozing through their music, dark, blues infused heaviness. It's nice to see a band harking back the heavy genre's roots and Slump do it well. With many fans in the room unfamiliar with the bands work, it really is a case of doing enough to score the fans votes. It's a solid, well rounded performance but is it enough for them to progress? The bar has been set and two bands are left to follow. - The Razor's Edge

The MMH team feel it is important to let you know that Slump guitarist and vocalist, Matt Noble, is also a regular contributor to MMH. While this review attempts to assess the musical output separately from the professional relationship we have with Matt, we ask that readers keep this in mind as they read.

When releasing a debut single there’s a lot of pressure, even if you have a relatively small following- it needs to be a statement of intent, and something you can feel happy with being the only thing potential fans might hear before seeing you live. Nothing More is Slump’s very first release, and smartly they have packaged it with the b-side Degenerate which allows them to demonstrate their skill across the spectrum of what stoner rock can be.

Nothing More itself shows the Sabbath worship at the heart of any good band in this sphere. Its slow, Bluesy doom riffs are executed with precision over a drum line with the perfect amount of swing to keep things tight but never feel too ploddy. Lead guitar lines are used to embellish riffs in all the right places. The final minute or so when the pace picks up, is a brilliant choice that helps the song close in style and really shows that, unlike a lot of their peers, Slump are just as good at going fast as they are at going slow. My only real gripes would be around the fact that the riffing becomes a lot more simplistic under the vocals and the melody lines aren’t as strong as they could be- an area where the genre often struggles in deference to have huge riffs. While there are areas of the production that I’d like to see improved in future, it’s hard to criticise a new band for not having a huge production budget.

The more upbeat Degenerate has another excellent bluesy lead riff, often accented by guitar harmonies. It certainly feels like a tour de force on the drums, which liven up what is quite uninspired riffing under the verses- which needs a bit more going on than just chord stabs to hold my interest. This is exacerbated by the vocal melody not being strong enough to carry the song- this is definitely an area I’d like to see Slump improve their craft for future releases. Toward the end of the song there’s a section of fairly complex sounding guitar harmonies- this is great from a song writing perspective but in terms of execution it’s quite messy. This is down to the two guitar tracks being slightly, but noticeably, out of sync. Another take on one of these would have really helped smooth things over.

Nothing More is a great first single for Slump. It may not be ground breaking, but every band has to start somewhere. Not only is this single great but it ooze potential. I might prefer my stoner and doom a little more apocalyptically heavy, but Slump know what they want to do and they’re pulling it off bloody well. - MMH Radio

It’s with an echoe-y guitar sound that Nothing More, the debut release from UK-based stoner-doom quartet Slump, kicks off. The first thing to note is that the band are masterful in their use of space and restraint, leaving the introduction sparse and tantalising.

As soon as the vocals kick in, the song is filled out with throbbing bass and a huge riff, led by frontman Matt Noble. His voice is strong and consistent, carrying with it an onslaught of emotion as he sings about the passing of his friend. “Heard the news today my old friend passed through the void,” is the heart-breaking opening line of this release.

There’s a live feeling to this recording, the sound breathes as the song swells, with nods to Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats in Slump’s use of harmony; and of course, the almighty Black Sabbath are paid homage to.

The subject matter could be considered downbeat, but the song is ultimately uplifting in its lyrics, as Noble swears to live his life to the fullest, in the knowledge that it will, one day, end. The band makes use of a tempo change at the end of the track, something which bridges the gap between A-side and B-side, and prevents the song from feeling too downcast.

B-side Degenerate is a more upbeat and energetic track which still remains true to Slump’s stoner roots. Noble’s vocals are once again killer, and the song is home to not one but two guitar solos, elevating the energy of the track once again. The chorus is anthemic and the song as a whole is in complete contrast to the A-side, proving that Slump really can do it all.

A very promising start from this new band on the scene. Keep your eyes peeled for more. - Bring The Noise UK