Written by Siena Robb

SLIM JIMZ aren’t wasting any time. The Sydney- based indie five-piece have dropped themselves straight into the mix with a sound that’s sharp, addicting and impossible to ignore. Their new EP Around The Bend released in late October is turning heads, It hits you in a way that makes you stop—wonder and ask yourself “Why does this make me feel so damn good?" It brings that strange, addictive sensation you get from a tiny electric shock or a tattoo gun. Frontman Ben Roach described this EP as “impulsive, heartfelt and honest” and rightfully so.

Also released as a single prior to the EP release, “Red Light” is a track built on tension, punch and that split-second rush you get when you’re doing something you know you shouldn’t be.

The guitars collectively ride a wave of feeling electric yet moody whilst the vocals cut through with restless late-night urgency. “Red Light” is a track that sits somewhere between a warning and an invitation; a song for the moments when you step over the line on purpose. It truly leaks how they feel: loud, immediate and a little dangerous in all the right ways. “We were trying to capture the idea of knowing that you shouldn't be doing something but doing it anyway, because you cant help the way you feel.” Says Ben.

“Strut” hits and you slip into it without even thinking. It’s dreamy, it’s hazy and it leans into their signature chaotic-cool energy. The drums lock everything into place. They’re tight and punchy with this confrontational groove that gives the track it’s backbone. The guitars give you that feeling of static running down your spine, whilst the vocals walk chest-first. It visits the idea of someone leaving, whilst you’re left wondering if you’ll cross paths again. The lyrics “Guess I’ll see you around the bend” shaped the title for this EP.

“How Does It Feel” taps into a different side of SLIM JIMZ: looser, evocative and more reflective, whilst still carrying that unmistakable bite. The track swings between vulnerability and attitude, sitting in that space where the vocals hit a little harder than expected. There is a rawness to the delivery- like someone finally saying the words the’ve been avoiding and the instrumentation mirrors it with waves of tension that never fully resolve. It’s a song that lingers long after it ends, which ultimately makes it the perfect conclusion to the EP. “How Does It Feel definitely surprised me the most. There's a really heavy part at the end where all the emotion boils over and you can hear the intensity of the vocal - it hits with raw, angry energy.” Ben expresses.

Around The Bend feels like SLIM JIMZ stepping into themselves; louder sharper, more self assured and completely relentless. It’s an EP that moves fast, hits hard and leaves a buzz in your chest long after it ends. It’s only the start of a pivotal new era, SLIM JIMZ didn’t just drop an EP, they’re staking their claim and they’re coming in hot!