Known for his progressive work in the Canadian band FEN, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Doug Harrison announces the third album, “A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife,” from his solo project Slug Comparison, due out May 2025.
Written by Harrison along with vocals, guitar, bass, and programming, he is joined by drummer Flavio Cirillo (Art of Dying, Puddle of Mudd) withmixing done by Ben Kaplan (Biffy Clyro, Bend Sinister, Ninjaspy, Mother Mother, Corb Lund) and masteredby Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering (Mother Mother, Corb Lund).
Slug Comparison unveiled the first single, “March Through the Forest,” this past January and is sharing the next single and the album’s opening track, “Wish to Adapt,” from the 11-song album. The track is about reaching the end of yourself, when you know what you’re going to do in virtually every situation, and you’re bored, and you want to change, and you wonder if you can, if you can break out of yourself. This song captures the yearning that might lead to the breaking of patterns.
The full length describes trying to squeeze the creative process into the demands of normal life. Most musicians don’t make much money, if any. And one’s schedule doesn’t tend to open up great swathes of time for creativity. Every minute you get to work on music is the spoil of a battle won against the forces of daily life. Sacrifices are made. Metaphorical limbs are lost.
Harrison’s comments:
“My past work includes a lot of acoustic guitars and delicate layering.The new material is all electric, has more upfront rock production, and ismore riff-heavy. I lean into my early influence of grunge, but this record also has touches of prog and alt-rock. Fans who know my other band, Fen, might like “Metal Roots Came Twisting” for its expansive journey. I want fans to enjoy the high, uplifting energy of this exhilarating musical experience.”
Harrison does assure fans that future releases will continue to explore the moody, acoustic-based territories that defined his earlier work. Recommended for fans of Mother Mother, The Killers, and Porcupine Tree. Listen to “Wish to Adapt” at the following links:
YouTube – https://youtu.be/zCntMSHpp1A
Bandcamp – https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/track/wish-to-adapt
Due out on May 9, 2025, album pre-order for “A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife” is available at https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/album/a-battle-to-the-end-fought-on-the-edge-of-a-knife
First Single – “March Through the Forest”
YouTube – https://youtu.be/WPwp061C0ZU
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/3PtN98j
Track Listing:
1. Wish to Adapt (3:46)
2. March through the Forest (3:54)
3. Game of Repression (3:57)
4. Undead Plots (4:06)
5. Outta the Jam (4:51)
6. A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife (4:13)
7. Too Much Love (5:04)
8. Metal Roots Came Twisting (6:45)
9. Played for a Centipede (2:36)
10. Of Being Apart (5:19)
11. Hamsters in a Tub (3:02)
Album Length: 47:33
“Canadian auteur explores expectancy and desperation to find cathartic cleansing of his soul. 4/5” – Dmme.net – Let It Rock (When You Were Living Here 2019)
“One of my favourite songs of the year” (about “Bringer of Doom”) –Dutch Progressive Rock Radio (Self-Titled 2014)
“Simply engulfs the imagination and emotions” -The Ringmaster Reviews (Self-Titled 2014)
#30 of The Rickter Scale’s Top 100 albums of 2014 – Rickter Scale Rock Radio (Self-Titled 2014)
“Stirs the senses, taking the listener on a voyage of imagination and emotion.”-Sonic Abuse (Self-Titled 2014)
Slug Comparison Self-Titled Album #5 on DPRP’s Top Progressive Metal Albums of 2014
“Spell binding” -Your Music Blog (Self-Titled 2014)
“Songs that are all of the highest caliber” – PowerofMetal.dk (Self-Titled 2014)
“a true gem of prog rock” – Living Music Blog (Self-Titled 2014)
“Ahh, the glorious beauty of the brooding and gloomy mind of Doug Harrison” (5 stars) – Sea of Tranquility (Self-Titled 2014)
“a lot of work and effort has gone into this album, and it pays off spectacularly” -Wonderbox Metal (Self-Titled 2014)
9.2/10 – Metal Imperium – (Self-Titled 2014)
More info: Slugcomparison.com | Instagram.com/slugcomparison | Facebook.com/slugcomparison
