Sleaford Mods

War in Europe, rising energy prices, inflation, a rigid political class, post-Brexit nausea and a divided country, despair, anger and alienation. Has it ever been worse in England? Sleaford Mods ask themselves this on their new record "UK Grim", which will be released on March 10th, and give their usual clear answer. "The rot has set in," says rapper Jason Williamson. "We've all become Tories, we're all Conservative MPs now. Servants of this gloomy Aldi nationalism." In other words, on their now twelfth album, Williamson and his congenial partner Andrew Fearn are still damned mad at their country, its representatives and its bleak state in general. Although largely written before the turmoil of 2022, the record eerily anticipates the convulsions of a society losing its mind. Musically, the 14 watertight tracks are pure punk, stubborn electronics and twisted hip-hop. The lyrics alternate between themes of shameful right-wing radicalism, corruption, the addicts' nostalgic view of drugs and existential loneliness. The statements are clear and direct, the words clear, blunt and brutal. The Sleaford Mods have never sugarcoated anything, but they have rarely been as angry as they are on "UK Grim". Even their own scene gets its comeuppance when Williamson rages about their monotony: "Not another white bloke aggro band, oh yeah we're all the fucking same, let's not kid ourselves." Never holding back, that's the duo from Nottingham. Every track has to ignite immediately: in quickly, clear the decks in two minutes and out again. Topic solved. If only the Hydra England didn't grow two new heads for every one it cuts off. Reason enough for Sleaford Mods to keep going. This also applies to the duo's performances, which are just as minimalistic and yet so energetic. The two are coming to us on tour in October.

The concerts are presented by Rolling Stone, laut.de and MusikBlog.de.