Slant – 1집

Hailing from Seoul, South Korea, Slant is a five-piece hardcore punk band whose style of stripped down d-beats and breakdowns could draw comparisons to the likes of Tørsö or Punch. Their first full-length, 1집, was released a year ago on Seattle’s Iron Lung Records.

Kicking off with the pulverizing “Enemy”, Slant start as they mean to go on, with powerful driving beats underlining the scuzzy guitar riffs, but what really stands out is the vocals, OH MY GOD the vocals. I’ve heard a lot of screamers over the years, as you obviously have, if you’ve found your way to this site.

Some have excellent technique with great production to the point where it feels a little clinical, while others have to rely too much on amplification or reverb to make as much of an impact. I love screaming and harsh vocals of almost all kinds, so I’m not trying to shit on anyone here, but what vocalist Yeji has is the kind of scream that makes your hair stand on end. You can feel the anguish and torture in her vocals, the way they break up slightly, humanizing the inhuman noise coming from her.

Slant aren’t exactly a one trick pony, although they don’t stray too far from the formula they set out early on, but with the ten tracks on offer clocking in at around seventeen minutes, they manage to keep your attention throughout without having to cover too much sonic ground. Guitar solos, such as on “Effigy” or “Stagnation”, help them stand out from their peers, and while it may be surprising at first, I find that it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the track, even if I personally don’t feel that it adds much value.

In conclusion, 1집 is a promising debut (if you don’t count their 2018 demo and 2019 short EP) from a band that will undoubtedly become a favorite among fans of no-nonsense hardcore, and I’m very much looking forward to their next record and hopefully seeing them wreak havoc at a live show one day.