Friday 16th January 2015 by Amy Gravelle | Photos by Press

Slaves talk punk, Gallows and touring

The punk duo discuss critic misconceptions and tour preparations

The legends that are Garbage: Originally meant to release their sixth album in 2014, it would appear Garbage are instead holding off until 2015 for their next release. Whilst no specific details have been revealed just yet, track names including 'Let Yourself Go', 'Moth To Light' and 'Epic' were all deciphered from a whiteboard in the background of one of their studio shots.

New things from Marilyn Manson: Manson will return to release his ninth studio album The Pale Emperor in January. If new tracks 'Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge' and 'Deep Six' ARE anything to go by, this record once again promises to be a frantic, heavy affair - perhaps even his best in years.

The new Tool album is coming: The album we thought we'd never see draws ever nearer. 10,000 Days was the last offering from the band, which was released all the way back in 2006. Since then, lawsuits and frontman James Keenan's lack of involvement with the band have held the process back. Now, the latest reports show all the members of the band working together in the studio, which is a huge step forward. Expect it out by summer 2015.

The crowning of Royal Blood: They stormed the charts with their self-titled debut before tickets to all live dates disappeared like golddust. As the strongest force in UK rock, expect them to pull a few tricks and moumental gigs out of the bag to see 2015 through with style. Are arenas on the horizon?

Even more Manic Street Preachers' Holy Bible shows: This year, the band ended years of speculation and rumour by playing their seminal 1994 album in full on a UK tour. Now, the band have announced yet more dates for the classic LP next year, including a huge homecoming show at Cardiff Castle. Expect it to be nothing less than historic.

Foo Fighters tear up the road: We had a taster when they played a string of 'secret' club shows leading up to the Invictus Games in the UK last summer, now they're heading back for some monumental UK stadium shows - with special guests including the likes of Royal Blood, Iggy Pop, Kaiser Chiefs, Hozier and more at selected shows.

Who fancies an Interpol side-project?: A collaboration between Interpol guitarist Daniel Kessler and sound designer Joseph Fraioli, experimental duo Big Noble will release First Light on 2 February 2015. Kessler's involvement is more than enough to get us excited, but Fraioli describes the project as "immersive and perspective-changing...sonically a lot of the arrangements feel technically vast, but there's an intimacy that I hope listeners will find addictive to escape within."

Slipknot and KoRn are touring together: Right? Massive.

Another new Smashing Pumpkins' album: December's Monuments To An Elegy was a late entry to become one of 2014's best albums, which is why we're excited for Day For Night - the records 'darker' follow-up which is due for release in 2015.

Some incredible rock debuts are on their way: Thankfully, we've finally reached the stage where pundits stop discussing whether or not guitar music has 'died' - it's always been alive and well. Next year is no different, with promising debuts expected from the likes of Wolf Alice, Slaves, Courtney Barnett, Girl Band, Menace Beach, Deers, Heyrocco, Brawlers, Dolomite Minor All We Are and Circa Waves.

What will become of the likely lads?: Following their victorious lap of shows around Europe culminating in glorious gigs at Ally Pally, Carl Barat has revealed that he and Pete have retreated to Thailand to finish work on the collection of songs they've penned so far. After recently signing a record deal with EMI, it was announced the boys would be releasing a new album in the near future. They're also strongly tipped to be headlining Reading and Leeds...

Placebo live dates and a new book: After frontman Brian Molko's release of a retrospective book containing his own selection of lyrics from throughout his 20-year career at the helm of Placebo, titled �Brian Molko � Selected�, the band will be hitting the road in February and March for a massive string of shows.

Noel Gallagher's tour and new album: Yep, Noel G is back with second High Flying Birds solo album Chasing Yesterday, and some pretty massive arena dates to boot. With rumours of an Oasis reunion seeming like an insane fever dream, let's just enjoy the better half of the brothers tearing up the road and celebrating his past, present and future.

New stuff from Radiohead: Thom Yorke and co have been in the studio since September, with Johnny Greenwood adding that they were "looking down avenues" and "talking about different approaches and we�re currently trying a bunch out". Fingers crossed it's ready in time for summer and festival season. (*COUGH* GLASTONBURY *COUGH*)

Something new from Green Day: It's been a few years since their opinion-splitting Unos, Dos, Tre trilogy. But after Billie Joe Armstrong's breakdown and stint in rehab, let's hope they come back free of demons, more focussed and back on form. Armstrong hinted at their imminent return with a look to 2015 and the message 'Green Day Forever'.

The Strokes are back too - but what does it mean?: It's always impossible to second-guess what the return of NYC's finest could mean, but they're back to play Primavera Sound Festival this summer. Fingers crossed this means a world tour and maybe the release of some long-rumoured new material.

Muse come back heavier: The band have been hard at work for a few months now, recording in Vancouver with legendary AC/DC producer Robert 'Mutt' Lange on a 'heavier' and 'rockier' LP that deals with 'World War 3 and deep ecology'. They've told fans to expect to hear it in summer 2015 - just in time for a string of festival shows. With the likes of Download included, expect them to sound metal, as well as supermassive.

The return of Fleetwood Mac: UK fans will finally get the chance to see the classic Mac line-up with Christine McVie reunited as the rock icons return for massive stadium shows and a headlining set at Isle Of Wight Festival. Perhaps they'll treat us to some new material too?

The Maccabees' new album: It's been a long wait since 2012's Given To The Wild - but their fourth LP is finally coming next year. Orlando Weeks recently said: "It feels more self-assured. I feel confident in it - I feel confident singing it. I feel like it's got a really nice mix of all of our different inputs, and that's the thing that takes us longest to get our heads around, trying to accommodate all of those different tastes."

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Currently leading the crop of post Royal Blood guitar duos, affable Kent punk pair Slaves are a force to be reckoned with.

To mark the release of their new single The Hunter, Gigwise spoke to Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent about touring with Fat White Family, surreal gig sights and why you should never call them an Oi!' Band.

On your appearance on Jools Holland, you had an embarasing moment with Bono. Has anything else surreal happened recently?
Issac: That cross dressing, completely naked man at our Hastings show was quite weird. It felt quite normal as well…
Laurie: One member of the original Sugababes followed us on Twitter the other day, which was weird, I think it was Siobhan. I think she’s in some new band now or something.
Issac: Are they any good?
Laurie: Well they can’t be if they were in the Sugababes…
Issac: No similar incidents to Bono, but I’d say it just feels weird for us being around really famous bands, we’ve been on tour with Jamie T and now Biffy, so all still a bit surreal.

What did you learn from seeing Jamie T night after night?
Laurie: We learnt how a dedicated fan base is something we can really learn to strive for. How everyone sings every single word of his set to him every single night is just phenomenal.

Was there anything surprising you had in common with him?
Laurie: I think he’s just a really normal bloke like us.
Issac: Him and me share a really big love for Rancid and he knows Tim Armstrong so I kept asking him loads of geeky questions about him.

What’s the best live band you’ve seen recently?
Issac: I’m probably going to say Fat White Family.
Laurie: Baby Strange are the best band in my opinion at the moment, but I haven’t seen them live. Just recordings wise I think they’re writing the best songs.

How do you prepare yourselves for going on tour with Fat White Family?
Laurie: Well we’re not drinking anymore and everyone keeps tweeting us like “Oh it’s gonna be well messy”... but we’re not massive drinkers or messy at all. So probably some early nights and I want to get fit. I’m riding a bike now so that’s how I’ll prepare.

What’s the best album you heard last year?
Laurie: It’s between Pleasure by Baxter Dury and Bombay Bicycle Club’s So Long, See You Tomorrow
Issac: Definitely not Bombay Bicycle Club for me, but Baxter Dury is probably mine as well

What do journalists get wrong about you guys?
Issac: Our names, who plays what, the lyrics to our songs, what our songs are about… Laurie: That we’re scallywag troublemakers or just punk. I mean I don’t think that we’re just straight up punk, but we just get roped in to that category which can be annoying
Issac: I hate being called an Oi! band and stuff like that.
Laurie: After half an hour of talking to someone about just punk it just feels like punk’s kind of already been done.

What questions are you bored of answering already?
Issac: "How long have you been together?"
Laurie: "Where are you from?" "First can you start by introducing yourself and saying what you play?"
Issac: "Where did the name Slaves come from?"
Laurie: "What’s the most rock’n’roll thing you’ve ever done?" As you can tell we’ve got quite a few already...

Describe your worst gig.
Issac: One of our strangest memories is playing in Wales to 4 people and we went onstage and everyone just hated us. They all seemed to have dreadlocks in the crowd too, but luckily that was about three years ago now.

Zane Lowe supported you very early on and played before your Relentless Live gig. What’s your favourite Zane moment?
Issac: When he played the Hunter, our new song, twice in a row in one night. Then when he was taking photos of us at Radio 1 Rocks everyone was taking photos of him taking photos of us and they were going “look he was taking photos of you”

Your sound reminds me of Gallows back in the day, do you think the music scene at the moment is missing a British punk band that can lead a movement?
Laurie: 'In The Belly Of A Shark' is the song that I said I want our music to sound like when we started. I don’t think it necessarily has done but I’m more than happy with that comparison.

I’m not sure about the movement point though, but I think we’re lacking a band that’s saying much in any way musically or lyrically. I always think the lyrics are important but I think sometimes you don’t need lyrics to make a movement or something sound passionate.

So do you aspire to the Gallows?
Issac: Not anymore, we used to, but now we prefer listening to pop music. We don’t aspire to be like any big punk band.

What music trends do you think need to die out?
Issac: I went through a phase of hating auto tune, like those T-Pain tunes but he’s sort of gone already.
Laurie: I don’t know if this really relates to music but topknot haircuts maybe. That haircut is so strange.

Your new single Hunter came out a couple of days ago, what were the motivations for writing that song?
Issac: It’s less politically led but more social documenting - we’re not political in the slightest, I don’t even know enough to comment on it.
Laurie: It focuses on the immediate every day and how you can change something. I read a quote the other day that said music and politics shouldn’t be mixed - we’re not going to start running for government or anything it’s not in our interest.

What can we expect from the album?
Laurie: I think the Hunter is a stepping stone towards the overall sound but there will be moments where it’ll be more pop and accessible, there’s also an acoustic song, then there’s some much more post-punk sounding songs. I think it’s just going to be much more accessible and developed.

The Hunter is out now now on iTunes and red vinyl. youareallslaves.com

Slaves are playing alongside Fat White Family, Palma Violets and the Amazing Snakeheads on the NME Awards tour 2015. Full tour dates below. Buy tickets here.

12 February Forum Tunbridge Wells w/Baby Strange (headline)
13 February Shipping Forecast, Liverpool w/Baby Strange (headline)
19 February The Leadmill, Sheffield
20 February O2 Academy Leeds
21 February O2 Academy Newcastle
22 February O2 ABC Glasgow
24 February Rock City, Nottingham
26 February The Ritz, Manchester
27 February, O2 Academy Oxford
28 February The Institute, Birmingham

02 March O2 Academy Bristol
03 March Portsmouth Pyramid Centre
04 March The Forum London

Slaves talk punk, Gallows and touring

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