B-Side Guys

Brighton’s Slung harnesses subversive energy on “Class A Cherry,” a track that simmers with calculated tension before erupting into moments of cathartic release. As the latest preview of their debut album “In Ways” (due May 2nd via Fat Dracula), this offering reveals a band whose musical identity transcends easy categorization, drawing from grunge, metal, and alternative traditions while creating something decidedly forward-looking.

The track opens with Vlad Matveikov’s ominous, undulating bassline, establishing an atmosphere of controlled menace that perfectly frames vocalist Katie Oldham’s exploration of provocative themes. When Oldham sings about bending rules and watching her “beg and steal and borrow,” she delivers lines that drip with duplicitous intent—the character she embodies isn’t submitting but rather manipulating perception for personal advantage.

This thematic complexity finds perfect musical accompaniment in the band’s arrangements. Ali Johnson’s guitar work weaves through the composition rather than dominating it, creating space for the Ukrainian Kaska Studio String Section’s contributions that add unexpected emotional dimensions. Meanwhile, drummer Ravi Martin anchors everything with precise, almost predatory rhythms that mirror the song’s power dynamics.

What makes “Class A Cherry” particularly compelling is how it subverts expectations, both musically and lyrically. The song, inspired by sex workers and the power dynamics inherent in their profession, flips traditional narratives by positioning the observed as the one ultimately in control. The metaphorical cherry—traditionally a symbol of feminine virtue to be taken—becomes instead a weapon deployed with calculated precision.

Slung creates an alternative rock soundscape that refuses easy categorization, much like the subject matter itself. Their ability to blend sweet vocal melodies with grinding instrumentation recalls 90s slacker rock aesthetics while sounding thoroughly contemporary. With “Class A Cherry,” Slung proves they’re capable of crafting songs that function both as visceral rock experiences and as nuanced commentaries on complex social dynamics—a promising sign for their forthcoming debut album.