SLOVENIANS Raise Fists for Punky New Single from Forthcoming ‘Birds of Disgrace’
~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~
By Billy Goate
Reports are sparse, but there appears to be growing underground backlash to the utopian technocracy that has been thrust upon all of us, making constant demands on our time, attention, security, and sanity. It feels like everything is accelerating, with a constant stream of cortisol-inducing stressors that authorities assure are just part and parcel of life in 2026 and beyond. It's the new normal, so get used to it (they say). It's just something our stupid evolution didn't prepare us for, but we can always cope with more drugs (we're told).
A growing number of people are getting fed up with the new normal and questioning everything, including the loss of essential humanity in this soulless zoo of concrete, asphalt, plastic, noise, and polluted air. The cork is about to pop and release some pressure, with the backlash manifesting in some noise of our own -- using the very electricity powering the Metropolis.
Punk rock has long been an outlet for that instinctive, primal urge to rage against the machine. Far from a passing fad, the medium has had surprising longevity. Without the backing of the corporate machine that brought us so much watered-down and faux-punk at the turn of the century, lovers of raucous noise are banding together, plugging in and plugging away with defiance and resolve.
Enter SLOVENIANS, dotted with outrageous tats and spilling over with excitability, irony, and rage, the four-piece powerhouse from Brussels have been dissing since 2012. The band has several releases to their name already, but a new record coming which dons a loving mash-up of punk, stoner, and blues (dig the fulsome harmonica on "Le Flues" and the boisterous guitars on "Creep Inside"). Of course, rock 'n' roll in all its stripes has always been just a step away from punk (from the early days of Jerry Lee Lewis to metal bands like Metallica), and Slovenians blend their ingredients smoothly, yet with no less bite.
While tracks like "Don't Wanna Wake," "Somebody Help," and "That Shit Off" may seem nihilistic on the face, Slovenians stay rooted in a deeper message: "No matter how damaged, defeated or lost someone becomes, there is always a path forward." Sometimes we just need to hear someone shout it with guts to believe it.
Punk rock as a message of hope? You decide as Mottow Soundz issues Slovenians' first new record since the pandemic: Birds of Disgrace. Coming to shake the world above ground on September 4th, today Doomed & Stoned is airing out the new single: "Zwarte Kat."
The vibe feels unmistakably dangerous, full of black cat energy that knows how to really rattle those gilded cages of ours. Laurent's furious drumbeats and Guillaume's basswork are matched by Logan's throaty vox and frantic riffing from guitarist Félix. It all gives me the urge to pick up a bar stool and fling it (disclaimer: do not do this at one of their shows).
Stick it on a playlist with Motorhead, some rowdier High on Fire and Melvins cuts, and of course classic punk from yesteryear. Available soon for pre-order here and here.
Give ear...
SOME BUZZ
A blistering mix of raw punk-rock energy, melodic tension, hardcore urgency and hardened life experience, Birds of Disgrace is Slovenians’ most ambitious and emotionally charged release to date.
Formed in Brussels in 2012, Slovenians have spent more than a decade carving out a distinct place in the European underground. Blending explosive punk rock with gritty stoner and blues influences, the band quickly built a reputation for high-intensity performances and uncompromising songwriting, earning a loyal following across Belgium and beyond.
Across fourteen tracks, Birds of Disgrace confronts addiction, grief, shame, social hypocrisy, loneliness and survival, delivering songs that are as brutally honest as they are cathartic. From the psychological turmoil of new single ‘Somebody Help’ to tracks such as ‘Creep Inside’, ‘Don’t Wanna Wake Up’ and ‘Doctor Doctor’, the album explores both private collapse and public failure, capturing the emotional fractures of modern life.
At its core, the record is also about endurance. Songs like ‘Start Again’ and ‘Le Flues’ reflect the album’s central message: no matter how damaged, defeated or lost someone becomes, there is always a path forward.
Lyrically and musically, Birds of Disgrace balances punk sarcasm, dark humour and emotional depth without losing the raw urgency that has defined Slovenians since their earliest days on the Brussels underground circuit.
The band’s journey has not been without tragedy. In 2017, Slovenians lost founding guitarist Sinkesh Krištofik in a sudden accident, an event that deeply affected the group and cast uncertainty over their future. Choosing to continue in his honour, the band returned with renewed purpose, later dedicating their 2020 EP Sinners to his memory and channeling that resilience into their evolving sound.
That spirit of persistence continues to define Slovenians today. Over the years, they have shared stages with punk legends such as The Exploited and performed at major events including Rat Rock Festival, solidifying their reputation as a powerful live force driven by intensity, honesty and connection with their audience.
With confirmed appearances throughout 2026, including a performance at Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia, Birds of Disgrace by Slovenians is released on 4th September 2026 via Mottow Soundz.
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