‘SOFTER NOW’ is the latest project from Massachusetts band Bugslam. Taking you on a searing six-track long joyride, the EP chews you up, spits you out, and leaves you feeling slightly dishevelled by the end (in a good way, of course).
Kicking us straight off is the shortest track of them all, ‘L’APPEL DU VIDE’. Glitchy and compelling, it’s a track that almost doesn’t feel real but still piques your curiosity into discovering more about what this EP has to offer.
Following straight after is my favourite titled track, ‘4K UHD BAD DREAM’. It’s one of the darkest songs on the whole of ‘SOFTER NOW’. With just a quick pit stop of respite in the middle, the song completely refutes the softness of ‘L’APPEL DU VIDE’. Slightly chaotic, with the wailing, desperate guitars and screaming vocals and by having the glitchy feel carry on with random interludes of beeping, it all makes for an irresistible listen and leaves you excited with unearthing the hidden gem that is Bugslam.
Next up is ‘WALL OF FLESH’, a slightly more frantic and emo take where the drums really let loose and demonstrate just why Helena Andrus should be famed globally for her drumming style. The howling guitars from ‘4K’ lead you in before the song finds a voice of its own. Both the whispers and the screams provide contrast with each other, really allowing you to dig deep into the heart of the EP. ‘WALL OF FLESH’ is a cathartic release of pent-up emotion and energy, circling you in the moment before forcing you out as quickly as you entered.
‘I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE’ might just have my favourite guitar style out of any songs on the entire ‘SOFTER NOW’ EP. Soaring and pensive, they truly help to carry the song, even when it slows down slightly near the middle. Jason Frankel’s slightly whinier vocals are a testament to his range, which has been demonstrated throughout this whole thing, and despite the guitars helping to drive the track forward, the drums are truly the unsung hero, breathing life into the song and giving it the opportunity to flourish.
Being the penultimate track, ‘GARDEN STOMP’ dives straight in there with no time to waste. It’s a slightly crazy and groovy track, allowing you to kick back and dance/mosh the night away. The muffled vocals and fabulous drum fills make for an entertaining one and a bit minute listen before ‘SULLY’ brings the energy right down, with its melancholic guitars and solemn vocals. While ‘I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE’ may have been the best track for guitars, it is undeniable that ‘SULLY’ is the best track for the drums; they help to bring out the stormy anger that the song harbours, with lyrics including “I could hate you for it” helping to anchor this anger. By having the energy pick up as the song progresses, it leaves you feeling blue that the EP is over.
Bugslam’s EP, ‘SOFTER NOW,’ is a testament to the band’s talent and passion for music. Packed to the brim with alt-rock, shoegaze and emo alongside other influences, it makes for a compelling listen and leaves you excited to unearth more of what this band has to offer.
Written by Madi Briggs
