The Slow Country have inked a record deal with Heist or Hit Records, and are celebrating the good news with a new single entitled “Firing Line.” With the aid of producer Bill Ryder-Jones, the seven-piece group cooks up a simmering rock cut that lands somewhere between sardonic post-punk and a melted Western soundtrack. Come for vocalist Charlie Smith’s delivery, stay for the ripping guitar solo performed on Ryder-Jones’ guitar—which was given to him by none other than Noel Gallagher.
“To me, ‘Firing Line’ is about anxiety, depression, and self-pity, and the repetitive lifestyle they can create,” Smith shares. “When those feelings hit, they almost feel like an act of violence against oneself. When you’re in the throes of anxiety and depression, you don’t notice the beauty in the world around you. We wanted to highlight this through the juxtaposition between the blunt lyrics and the (hopefully) epic music that surrounds them. This is a big reason why there are so many melodic moments in the song, and the strings and piano play such a big role.”
Regarding the collaboration, Smith adds: “Bill gave us the time and encouragement to express ourselves more freely on the track, helping us give the song its emotional core. It was a pleasure to see him work with our violin player, Miren—he’s incredibly subtle and natural in his production, which just allows you to really open your playing.”
Check out the powerful “Firing Line” below.
