Manchester sibling duo SLAP RASH return with their explosive new single “Chokeheld”, out today (October 20) via cult label and promoter Sour Grapes. The track lands just ahead of their headline show at Blondies, London, and a run of European tour dates, marking the duo’s first release since February’s acclaimed Monumental Rest EP.
Comprising Huw Lloyd on bass and Amelia Lloyd on drums and vocals, SLAP RASH channel the volatile spirit of METZ, 7 Year Bitch, Lightning Bolt, and TOOL into their own relentless form of kinetic noise. “Chokeheld” thrashes between doom-laden riffs and frenetic, jazz-inflected breakdowns, pairing brute force with razor-sharp precision. Produced by Samuel William Jones (Maruja, Slowhandclap) and mastered by Joe Carra (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Amyl and The Sniffers), the single captures the duo at their most uncompromising yet.
Of the single, the band describe,
‘Chokeheld’ is about the tension between internal desires and external realities. The suffocating feeling of being trapped in an environment that doesn’t fulfill you, yet not being able to fully escape it. It’s the weight of boredom that makes you feel like you’re choking on your own thoughts, craving something new, but too hesitant to dive fully in. It’s a flirtation with rebellion, chasing the brief thrill of stepping outside your comfort zone, but always followed by the return to reality the next morning.
Known for their blistering live shows, SLAP RASH have toured the UK with Mandy, Indiana, sold out Manchester’s White Hotel, and shared stages with Ditz, The Psychotic Monks, Maruja, Show Me The Body, and Humour. Following standout sets at Manchester Psych Fest and previous EU stops including Paris’ Supersonic and Sur Le Lac Festival, their upcoming European run promises more of the same unrelenting chaos.
