Australian band Slowly Slowly releases new indie rock album "Forgiving Spree"
Do you need a new band for 2025 to freshen up your streaming services?
You might find it in Slowly Slowly, an Australian indie rock band that releases their new album "Forgiving Spree" this week on the 24th of January! We got a taste of it before its release and can you all about it.
After their debut album "Chamomile" in 2016 and their last album "Daisy Chain" in 2022, the members of the band Patrick Murphy, Albert Doan, Alex Quayle, and lead singer Ben Stewart are back with their 5th album that includes a catching pop-rock sound that is reminiscent of bands like The 1975. The Broad concept of forgiveness follows each track within the album. The lead singer Stewart said about the album concept that he included the “concept about forgiveness being for you, not the other person. People don’t often think about it as a selfish thing, but it’s such a valid tool to help move through things properly." This concept interpretation can be heard at various times within the album.
Listen to the album to follow along with my Review and make up your own mind.
The first song of the new album, also titled "Forgiving Spree", is an upbeat song that introduces the album's sound perfectly. The song is catching and fitting to the overall theme of forgiveness. The drum rhythm leaves you rocking with the guitar sound and clashes perfectly with the vocals. Especially the chorus is stuck in one's mind as it is catching and a fun rendition of the many "bad omens" and bad things that happened to him in the past. But it in the end it is a strong start to this album and the band’s "forgiving spree“.
Lovers of the film Good Will Hunting will love the theme of this next song. The second song, "Gimme the Wrench," is inspired by this show and the Inspired by a scene in which the protagonist has to choose an instrument of punishment; he then chooses the wrench to avoid leniency and test himself. This sound is building where you can feel the energy of the readiness to tackle the tasks ahead - no matter how hard they may seem. Therefore, lyrically and in sound, the second track, "Gimme the Wrench," has the potential to become a song to start your day with and head everything you need to do head-on.
You all know I've to listened to "How are you Mine?" multiple times. It is not only fun and catchy rhythmically and sound wise, it is lyrically a nice ode to love. Especially with the repetition of the question How are you mine? in the Chorus, will be stuck in ones head afterwards. In comparison to that, the song "Hurricane" is more soft and lyrically opens about the leadsingers pure emotion, changes and pain. "Hurricane" is a cinematic retelling of Stewart’s wedding day and the joy of discovering he and his wife were to have their first child, only to suffer a miscarriage a few months into the term. The sound is upbeat even though the theme of a hurricane lyrically explores phases of turmoil and change. Although it may not be one of the many sing-along songs of the album, it is one that listeners will understand and feel in various ways - Everyone has felt like their life became a Hurricane at some point!
Lyrically, a favorite track of mine was the song "All Time," as it is a lyrical perfection for book or romance lovers alike. It starts out with lovers meeting in “the throes of Pompeii” and showcases various meetings of these apparent soulmates, all of which could convince lyrically with its smart storyline. The sound did also not disappoint! Its rock-pop sound perfectly fits the vibe, I especially liked how it builds up its musical power only to fade out in the end!
The transition brings listeners to the next song called "Love Letters". For me, "Love Letters" was the highlight of the whole album. It was stuck in my head for quite some time after first listening, so I listened to it on repeat afterward. Lyrically it is another ode to his beautiful love for his wife as "she keeps [his] love letters" and all the energy she gives him. The song gives a pop-rock vibe with much emotion in his voice. It is a fun song that makes you want to move and sing along. Perfectly composed with a backtrack guitar, keyboard, and drums, I especially enjoyed the guitar solo in the end as it gives a more edgy vibe to it. The sound of the co-production with Courtney Ballard (5 Seconds of Summer, State Champs) can be heard in the track, which fans of the genre will highly enjoy.
"That’s That" brings a funky 80's sound to the table. The fun sax solo it brings a surprising aspect to it, but I love what it does to the song. Its feels energetic and is well written as it is a somewhat sarcastic lyricism. I definetly bopped my head to the bright tunes and the catching energy of the song. This bright energy is all switched up with the sound of "Meltdown Masquerade". Meltdown Masquerade is reminiscent of the band's older songs, which fans of the song surely enjoy. The beat of the chorus ("cry to your left now, tantrum to your right...") is catchy and leaves the listener bopping its head. I've throughly loved listening to this song since the darker vibe gave a great contrast to the other songs on the album. It's heavier, feels dynamic and the chorus was stuck in my head. One of the more catchier beats in the album that l highly enjoy, I could see this song going well with fans of the band.
All in all a great album for lovers of a rock-pop sound that is all about love and forgiveness. The sound of the album is similar to previous singles of the band, yet the music gives you a feel that it is well thought over and composed. It is a special rendition of the known rock-pop sound but each song by Slowly Slowly takes a new twist to the genre. All of this makes it an enjoyable album to listen to as it lyrically is very clever and gives many different moods for the listeners to feel with the band. Once again, Slowly Slowly managed to simultaneously rediscover and perfectly change their sound; this time I would say it is a perfection to their previous brand and musical style. Slowly Slowly's album "Forgiving Spree" is a bundle of many energetic sounds combined with fun and well though out lyrics.
You liked the album? They'll be touring very soon so check out the dates quickly to not miss a cool evening with the aussie band.
WRITTEN BY
Maxine
I love to capture little moments in busy streets, but for our magazine, I mostly take editorial, portraits and concerts shots. You can sometime find me reviewing concerts or talking about all and everything during a hot chocolate in interviews with our guests.
Band Pictures by: Marcus Cobly & Kane Hibberd