Sleaford Mods – The Demise of Planet X
The Demise of Planet X is a strong addition to Sleaford Mods' discography that flicks the Vs at a world gone mad
‘Much hasn’t come in the way of good shit / Now MAGA’s on the tightrope / MAGA’s off their tits / The pied piper can’t handle this / You better flood the zone with shit / The pied piper can’t handle worms / This Domestos kills all germs’. Or so we are told on Flood the Zone, a standout moment on Sleaford Mods’ latest album, The Demise of Planet X.
This kind of jawing is typical of vocalist Jason Williamson: semi-political, invariably absurdist, and bordering on incoherent. Accompanied by Andrew Fearn’s minimalist beats, the project is true to Sleaford's established style: uncompromising, raw, messy and darkly funny. It sometimes roars to life, while other tracks present a flat wall of noise.
Gina Was emerges as the album’s most musically complete moment, showing what they can do when it all comes together. Single The Good Life is another highlight: a throbbing guitar loop, angry vocals and... Game of Thrones star Gwendoline Christie? Why not! It’s also striking how homegrown the record feels, pulling in East Midlands collaborators like soul singer Liam Bailey and MC Snowy to good effect. In the end, The Demise of Planet X is a strong addition to their discography that flicks the Vs at a world gone mad. You don’t have to love it. But their fans absolutely will.
Listen to: Flood the Zone, Gina Was, The Good Life