Slope: Same Kids. Just Louder.
Slope are reintroducing themselves with Same Kids. Just Louder. The German hardcore band have returned with a level of polish that brings out the raw power behind their riffs. They are independently releasing this as their third studio album on 25 September and aren’t shying away from pushing the genre to its most experimental limits.
The 12-track project explores the expected themes of a punk album, these being frustration, heartache and, of course, angst. But this is the only way Slope are conforming. The songs mesh hip hop with metal and pop-punk with doom, all in one creative yet cohesive journey that is Same Kids. Just Louder.
It can be hard to have a strong album opener; however, ‘Faith/Doubt’ manages to explode with energy. The song lures you into introspection by comparing life when you’re young to now, concluding that nothing’s really changed. Yet this sense of peace is quickly shattered by a wall of hardcore that never slows down. It delves into the overall theme of the album and is definitely one of my favourites.
Slope hone their skill for bouncing riffs in the next song, ‘Just Do You’, with its catchy melody. However, they show a different side in their collab with Nasty on ‘Out of Sight’. With a grittier, more commanding edge, the bands lean into a far heavier tone and give listeners a classic headbanger.
‘Misery’ is where Slope fully lean into their creativity. Much of the song makes your head spin and takes you down a path of thrash that changes at every turn. The standout of this song for me is without doubt the drums. The band put their full musical ability on display in the instrumental towards the end, really showing their talent for everything loud and fast.
Ironically, one of the more upbeat-sounding pieces from the album comes with ‘Same Blues’. Funky basslines help give pauses between the fast verses; however, what’s even more surprising is the track that follows. ‘Born Low’ shows trap beats melding with hardcore in a way that makes you wonder why we don’t hear this combination more often. It’s got Slope’s patented breakdown where they let a more doom-influenced side of their sound surface, but this time it features an effect that feels like it’s straight out of a video game.
‘Tidal Wave’ is another personal favourite from Same Kids. Just Louder. It’s got a chorus you want to sing along to, sitting between verses that are so fast and full of punk angst you don’t get a chance to slow down before it’s over. The second collaboration of the album is ‘LOVE’, featuring State Champs, and gives a pop-punk element to the project. It pays homage to the music many of us listened to when we were younger, and so it ties well into the album’s exploration of youth.
The closing track, ‘Still Around’, isn’t your typical breakup song. It’s moody, yes, but filled with the same sharp guitar riffs that Slope want you to know them for.
Same Kids. Just Louder. is a constant trip of pop melodies married to the band’s hardcore roots. The album gives you a lot; there seem to be so many different elements happening at once, but Slope don’t let it get confusing. It’s the band’s immense versatility that lets them incorporate so many different sounds into one project, making sure there’s something for everyone in Same Kids. Just Louder. If anything, just know that Slope won’t leave you room to slow down.