Ben Stewart’s goal for Slowly Slowly’s fifth album, Forgiving Spree, was simple: “I wanted it to be a really solid rock album that had no filler on it. Everything is tightly packaged, made for the stage, and explosive.” 

The singer-guitarist namechecks The Killers, Bruce Springsteen, and John Farnham as influences while creating Forgiving Spree, artists with classic songs “made and broken onstage”. Combine that melody-packed bombast with the lyrical dexterity and sensitivity of Bright Eyes, and you have Slowly Slowly’s stunning fifth record. 

The impetus for sculpting this nine-song set was the Melbourne quartet’s tour in support of 2022 predecessor Daisy Chain – which debuted at Number 5 on the Australian charts, their second Top 10 album following 2020’s Race Car Blues – a joyful series of shows that, says Stewart, were “ringing in [his] ears” as he began writing for the album that would become Forgiving Spree. 

The characteristic that has always distinguished Slowly Slowly from their peers is the band’s unique mix of introspective life reflections, heartfelt narratives, and sensitive sadness blended with clever wordplay that is as thoughtful as it is bold. Leaning even further into the refreshing pop sensibilities the four-piece uncovered on Daisy Chain, Slowly Slowly’s next chapter – led by anthemic single “Gimme The Wrench” – is set to be their most adventurous yet. 

What began in 2015 with debut single “Empty Lungs” has grown to become more than just a band deserving of the indie rock icon status they are ever-nearing – surrounding them is a community of loyal and passionate fans built across almost a decade. With four albums – 2016’s Chamomile, 2018’s St. Leonards, 2020’s Race Car Blues (#7 ARIA Charts), and 2022’s Daisy Chain (#5 ARIA Charts) – and hundreds of live shows, including sold-out headline runs, festival stages including Good Things Festival, Splendour in The Grass, NYE On The Hill, & Groovin The Moo, and support slots alongside the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Amy Shark, and Ocean Alley, Slowly Slowly have become an unshakeable musical force and Australian indie-rock favourites. 

Recommended For Fans Of:

The 1975, 5 Seconds of Summer, Frank Turner, The Killers, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Jimmy Eat World, The Band CAMINO, Vacations, Last Dinosaurs