French trio Slift make long-burning progressive epics, part metal fury and part cosmic exploration. They grew from the garage punk sound of their earliest albums into increasingly complex and drawn-out arrangements and a sound that veered more toward psych-metal thrashing. Amid heavy touring and a growing international profile, Slift released their expansive third full-length, ILION, with Sub Pop in 2024.

Slift was formed in Toulouse in 2016 by brothers Jean and Remi Fossat. Jean handled guitar, vocals, and synthesizers; Remi was on bass; and the band was rounded out by drummer Canek Flores. Their first recordings were more on the psychedelic garage rock side of things, with undercurrents of science fiction and space rock influences. This sound showed up on their 2017 EP Space Is the Key and their 2018 debut album, La Planète Inexplorée, before they transitioned into a heavier, prog metal approach on their second album, Ummon, released in 2020. By this time, Slift had become known for their powerful live shows, with video of their 2019 KEXP session recorded at the Trans Musicales festival in Rennes introducing the band to many new fans. In 2022, the group played their first North American dates, which included appearances at the Desert Daze and Levitation festivals. That year, they also released a single on Sub Pop that consisted of outtakes from the Ummon sessions. Sub Pop issued the band’s third LP, ILION, in January 2024. The album was another step in the direction of overpowering compositional psychedelic metal, with just eight songs stretching to an almost 80-minute run time. ~ Fred Thomas, Rovi