With “Slow Burn,” Sweet Pill deliver the third single from their upcoming album Still There’s a Glow, out soon via Hopeless Records. The song lands as one of their most compelling moments yet, anchored in punk but drawing from grunge, alt-rock, emo, and indie textures in a way that feels organic rather than scattered.
What makes “Slow Burn” stand out is how it moves. The backbone of the track carries a steady, almost deliberate pace, but there’s tension underneath, a push-pull between restraint and release that keeps it engaging from start to finish. Guitars sit somewhere between gritty and atmospheric, and the rhythm section gives it weight without overdriving it. Nothing is frantic for the sake of speed; everything serves the feeling.
Vocally, the delivery lands with emotional honesty. It’s expressive without pushing into melodrama, sitting in that space where vulnerability and strength coexist. The harmonies and phrasing reflect a band comfortable with nuance, reaching for emotional depth without sacrificing punch.
The blend of styles on “Slow Burn” feels deliberate. There’s a grunge-tinged chord progression here, an alt-rock sense of space there, and a melodic punk sensibility tying it all together. It’s not genre hopping. It’s genre layering, different influences woven into a coherent whole. That layered identity gives the track a distinct shape that’s hard to pin down but easy to return to.
Lyrically, the song fits its title. There’s an emphasis on tension over resolution — moments where emotion smolders rather than erupts. It’s reflective, grounded in experience rather than spectacle, and it feels like a snapshot of growth rather than a declaration.
Production on “Slow Burn” stays clean without losing edge. The mix lets each part breathe — guitars, vocals, rhythm — without crowding the song. The result sounds modern but lived in, polished but not artificial.
As the third single from Still There’s a Glow, “Slow Burn” builds on what Sweet Pill have been doing best: writing songs with emotional weight, melodic pull, and enough grit to keep them rooted in punk rock even when the influences broaden. This isn’t a soft rock detour. It’s a band using the full range of their sound to make a moment that feels nuanced, powerful, and distinctly their own.
“Slow Burn” doesn’t just blend styles. It balances them.
