SLANT

Alternative rock powerhouse group Slant has been doing nothing BUT touring, making music, and getting their groove on. With that said two of the four members, Fahim Zaman (vocals/guitar) and Munir Haque (guitar) caught up with me to discuss the band’s current plans for the remainder of this year and what we can expect as of next year.

1. You licensed the song “Lying and Bleeding” into an MMA film by Longsgate/Grindstone, how did this all happen?

Munir: KROQ and our management team PCM live made it happen for us. They used our song called Lying and Bleeding. It fits well with the MMA fighting world

2. KROQ’s Locals Only has been hitting the mark hard when it comes to “All I’m Good For” so I take it it’s gotten a big reception?

Munir: Yeah thanks to Kat Corbett and our fans, the song has been making a lot of appearances on the local’s only show.

Fahim: Yeah thank you KROQ and all the peeps that have called in for the song. I can’t believe it’s still hittin strong, it’s been a year so far and it still comes back on, And it’s shown in our shows as well….a lot more peeps have been comin down… So def. thank you’s to Kat & everyone at the station and everyone for calling in. KEEP CALLING GUYS!!!

3. You have been selected to play at the Ford Fiesta Lounge Show happening at the Escondido Street Fair, what can be expected from that event?

Fahim: Just expecting to have a good time and playing a good show out there in Escondido, And to check out some cool cars from ford of course. The show is put on as part of the contest “Gimmie the Gig” from Ford, so along with writing a little song that goes with the motto, they asked us to do a short set to entertain the audience at the fair.

4. Speaking of performances you guys also played in this year’s Sunset Strip Music Festival, how did that turn out for you guys?

Munir: The sunset music fest was a lot of fun. The guys from P.O.D are very cool and so were all the bands on the bill.

Ilya: It was a blast, the place was packed and we met a lot of new people and had a great time on stage.

5. Have you had any luck in getting signed or had any offers from any labels?

Fahim: Still in the works, we’ve been talking to a couple labels but nothing is where we would like it at so far, so we’re gonna keep playing and doing what we do and if it happens then it happens…Until then we will push along with our d.i.y. methods that show solid success.

6. How about writing have you written any new material since we last talked? Have any upcoming releases in store or not yet?

Munir: We have re arranged some of our tunes into acoustic tracks which we will be recording very soon along with a new track.

Fahim: Yah and we’ve been writing alot and have a lot of songs kinda half way there….early on next year we’ll have stuff ready and released. The acoustic stuff will be out in the next couple months…

7. What else does 2010 have in store for Slant for the remainder of this year leading into next year?

Fahim: We have a bunch of dates coming up in October….We love doing Halloween shows so this year we’re doing the Dark Harbor event on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, along with a couple other spots around L.A. and O.C. Come out and it’ll be a good time…

8. Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans?

Fahim: Thanks for sticking with us and all the support…Keep hittin us up on MySpace and Facebook, we love talking to ya guys…2010 was kickass….2011 will be even better…See ya at the shows!…..
- Muen Magazine by N. Perez

Alternative rock powerhouse group Slant has been doing nothing BUT touring, making music, and getting their groove on. With that said two of the four members, Fahim Zaman (vocals/guitar) and Munir Haque (guitar) caught up with me to discuss the band’s current plans for the remainder of this year and what we can expect as of next year.

1. You licensed the song “Lying and Bleeding” into an MMA film by Longsgate/Grindstone, how did this all happen?

Munir: KROQ and our management team PCM live made it happen for us. They used our song called Lying and Bleeding. It fits well with the MMA fighting world

2. KROQ’s Locals Only has been hitting the mark hard when it comes to “All I’m Good For” so I take it it’s gotten a big reception?

Munir: Yeah thanks to Kat Corbett and our fans, the song has been making a lot of appearances on the local’s only show.

Fahim: Yeah thank you KROQ and all the peeps that have called in for the song. I can’t believe it’s still hittin strong, it’s been a year so far and it still comes back on, And it’s shown in our shows as well….a lot more peeps have been comin down… So def. thank you’s to Kat & everyone at the station and everyone for calling in. KEEP CALLING GUYS!!!

3. You have been selected to play at the Ford Fiesta Lounge Show happening at the Escondido Street Fair, what can be expected from that event?

Fahim: Just expecting to have a good time and playing a good show out there in Escondido, And to check out some cool cars from ford of course. The show is put on as part of the contest “Gimmie the Gig” from Ford, so along with writing a little song that goes with the motto, they asked us to do a short set to entertain the audience at the fair.

4. Speaking of performances you guys also played in this year’s Sunset Strip Music Festival, how did that turn out for you guys?

Munir: The sunset music fest was a lot of fun. The guys from P.O.D are very cool and so were all the bands on the bill.

Ilya: It was a blast, the place was packed and we met a lot of new people and had a great time on stage.

5. Have you had any luck in getting signed or had any offers from any labels?

Fahim: Still in the works, we’ve been talking to a couple labels but nothing is where we would like it at so far, so we’re gonna keep playing and doing what we do and if it happens then it happens…Until then we will push along with our d.i.y. methods that show solid success.

6. How about writing have you written any new material since we last talked? Have any upcoming releases in store or not yet?

Munir: We have re arranged some of our tunes into acoustic tracks which we will be recording very soon along with a new track.

Fahim: Yah and we’ve been writing alot and have a lot of songs kinda half way there….early on next year we’ll have stuff ready and released. The acoustic stuff will be out in the next couple months…

7. What else does 2010 have in store for Slant for the remainder of this year leading into next year?

Fahim: We have a bunch of dates coming up in October….We love doing Halloween shows so this year we’re doing the Dark Harbor event on the Queen Mary in Long Beach, along with a couple other spots around L.A. and O.C. Come out and it’ll be a good time…

8. Is there anything else you’d like to say to your fans?

Fahim: Thanks for sticking with us and all the support…Keep hittin us up on MySpace and Facebook, we love talking to ya guys…2010 was kickass….2011 will be even better…See ya at the shows!…..
- Muen Magazine by N. Perez

If Tool and Jimi Hendrix had some kind of post mortem love child, it would be Slant. And if Tool, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and Nirvana could create a celestial collaboration, it would be Slant’s latest album, self titled “Slant”.

“Slant” takes you on an epic journey of intricately skilled drum solos, nostalgic guitar riffs, and soul wrenching vocals. With effortless transitions, each song simply glides into the next until you’ve reached the last track and are left thirsty for more. “Slant” is more than an album. It’s a carefully crafted musical expression of life, death, and everything in between.

Slant- comprised of lead singer Fahim, Ilya on bass, Munir on guitar, and Andrew on the drums- has all the makings of a talent durable enough to stand the test of time. Until you’ve done your ears the favor of buying their album, here’s a break down of my personal top five picks.

Track 2: Lying and Bleeding
A suspenseful introduction and smooth finish play out against the backdrop of fascinating guitar riffs, addictive melody, and unpredictable tempo changes.

Track 3: All I’m Good For
The pure emotion and intensity in Fahim’s voice is piercingly clear, reaching out and literally grabbing your soul, all the while giving you the impression that his boundless vocals could take you anywhere.

Track 9: Through It All
The chorus, both catchy and melodic, will stay in your head- but I doubt you’ll mind. A bold statement, I know, but it will make a fan out of anyone fortunate enough to listen.

Track 10: Boiling Pot
A masterful instrumental and blend of classic rock wrapped in a haunting melody and tied with an intriguing effects bow.

Track 16: Beautiful Angel
Written in memory of lead singer Fahim’s cousin, this song speaks out to anyone who has ever lost someone with a truthful clarity. The pain and anger at losing someone you love is painfully expressed through honest lyrics and a pure melody.

For your one stop shop on everything Slant, go to:
www.myspace.com/slantmusic
www.slantmusic.net



Link to official review from Skope Magazine.

http://skopemag.com/2009/09/30/slant-slant - Skope Mag. by Keldine Hull

By Slant, a band recently signed to Gotham Records, are currently traveling with label mates Scar'd sanity in the Slant'd sanity tour. Though I Haven't had the opportunity to catch their rumored, highly energetic shows, I was able to sit down and listen to their label debut, “A Thin Line,” which was released during the summer of 2005. Immediately I was intrigued by the into blending into the first song, “ Broken Wings.” As I continued to listen to the second and third songs, it became apparent the Nirvana/Seether influences. Now don't get me wrong, slant is no imitation and definitely have their own sounds.

By the time I heard the sixth song “ Close To You,” It was obvious these guys know how to rock with melodically inclined vocals created by Fahim Zaman, the lead singer and one of two guitar players; the other being Munir Haque. Childhood friends, they began jamming together. In 2002 they met up with Andrew Karpman, an incredible drummer, and his brother Ilya stepped up to the bass position.

A Thin Line is a well-rounded release with plenty of roller coaster emotionality. Anger? They feel it. Energy? This cd permeates it. Hope? These guys create it with songs like “Surrender.” The progressive nature of the last song “ Hollow” puts a dynamic final stamp on this worthy first release. I recommend heading to www.Slantmusic.net and purchasing “A Thin Line,” for once you give it a spin, you will feel the energy and become a fan.


- Crave Magazine - O.B.

SLANT has completed their much awaited debut album, "A Thin Line", which released in 2005 through Gotham Records. The album contains 14 tracks and runs just under an hour in length.

This highly unique L.A. based four-piece outfit really knows how to rock the house. Their music can be described as melodic, yet edgy, which has earned them the well deserved respect and an instant following in the L.A. music scene. The album takes you through a journey with extremely powerful and vigorous tracks like ‘Slip Away’, ‘Trust’ ‘Close To You’ and ‘Broken Wings’. On the contrary, the band plays deep, poignant and wrenching cuts such as ‘Seldom Bled’ and the Hoobastank- esque sounding ‘Ambition’. It’s amazing to hear the inspiration that bands like Nirvana and Tool have on Slant’s music. It’s heard most clearly in the vocals and they way they are delivered. ‘Happy’ is the most Nirvana influenced track on he album. I hear Tool influenced vocals in the hard-driving ‘Insight.

The diverse background of Slant's members and their strong influences from their respective countries is the spark that lights this audible flame. Rigid-hitting, melodic hard rock as its finest. Slant’s ‘A Thin Line’ is the fix music fans have been waiting for.


Rating: 4.5/5
Back

- Music Appraisal (6/17/2006)

3/27/2007 - RAF MILDENHALL, England -- They sang me an impromptu a cappella rendition of U2's "With or Without You," leapt off stage laughing their heads off, then lay at my feet, gazing up at me.
OK, so admittedly, I was up a ladder at the time, taking photos of them lying on the floor instead of doing the usual poses - but I guess you can't have everything.

This was "Slant," and they were at RAF Mildenhall March 23, as part of the Armed Forces Entertainment tour, to perform live on stage at the Galaxy Club.

Describing themselves as "simply hard rock and alternative," Slant are a four-piece band, based in Los Angeles, and made up of two Russians - brothers, Ilya (base guitarist) and Andrew Karpman (drummer) - and two Bengalis - Fahim Zaman (lead singer, and guitarist) and Munir Haque (guitarist).

"Fahim and I grew up together and our families were friends. We got together after about three years of not seeing each other. During that three years, we both picked up guitars, and when we met up again we said, 'Hey, why don't we start jamming together?'," said Munir.

"Fahim had a lot of stuff he'd already written, so we just started forming the songs and then got together with Andrew," he said. "During that time, Ilya was serving in the Marines, but when he finished his service, he joined us and we formed Slant."

So why "Slant?"

"It means to view something in a different perspective and in a different way, and that's how we view music - it fits us," Munir said.

The band plays a wide range of music styles - from hard rock, to Middle Eastern tones, to grunge, and said their biggest musical influences come from Tool, Nirvana, Guns 'n' Roses, Alice in Chains, Metallica and Rush.

In 2006, they decided they wanted to play for military troops, especially because Ilya had been in the Marines for four years.

"Patrick Arn (president of Gotham Records, Slant's record label) tried setting up a tour for us last year, but we didn't get a chance to come out here. This year, he received an e-mail (telling him it was going to happen this time) and called me, because he couldn't get a hold of Munir - Munir's van had broken down on the freeway, on the way to Las Vegas to play a show. When (Patrick) started telling me, tears started rolling down my face; I was very excited about it," said Ilya.

"When I told the guys, they were like, 'Heck, yeah!'" he laughed. "From having bad news, with the van being totally stuck on the road, to good news like that - we were all very excited. We wanted to do something for the troops."

Slant sometimes performs cover songs - mostly Nirvana, but they said it depends how they feel.

"We do our own version of 'With or Without You' by U2, but that one's something we tend to keep to ourselves. It sounds good and it's a lot of fun to play; we threw it out in one show and people loved it, so we pull that card sometimes," said Munir, adding the band haven't recorded the track on a CD yet, and aren't sure if they will or not.

"Tool," said all the guys in unison, when asked who they'd most like to tour with.

"They're amazing. Touring with them would be really cool, and we really respect their music. And we'd love to tour with Guns 'n' Roses or Alice in Chains," said Andrew.

But in songwriting, which comes first - the lyrics or the music?

"Sometimes we write the lyrics first, then figure out the music afterwards," said Fahim. "But, there are a lot of times where we'll have a song musically, and we'll write the lyrics over it, depending on how the music is."

"We'll often throw a couple of riffs together and it sounds pretty good," Ilya added.
Their new album, "Through it All," has songs coming from all different directions, according to Fahim, and is based on their life experiences and stuff they've been through. "2006 was a pretty rocky year collectively for us and that's reflected in our songs," he said.

RAF Mildenhall was Slant's fifth military audience on this tour, so how does the audience compare?

A crowd's a crowd, right? Apparently not.

"We could be playing in front of three military guys, as opposed to three civilians, and the reaction would be completely different," said Andrew. "The Air Force or Army guys would be going nuts, letting it all go, because there's a lot on their minds. Those guys are a lot more involved with the band, and it's a lot more fun to play for the troops."

They said after every (military) show they've been hanging out with the crowd, talking, and listening them tell about their experiences and hear what they have to say.

And their message to the troops?

"Stay strong, stay safe, stay alive. We're very appreciative of what you do. We know it's hard with the things you have to deal with and go through, but stay with it. We love you!"
- Air Force Print News Today by Karen Abeyasekere

SLANT has completed their much awaited debut album, "A Thin Line", which released in 2005 through Gotham Records. The album contains 14 tracks and runs just under an hour in length.

This highly unique L.A. based four-piece outfit really knows how to rock the house. Their music can be described as melodic, yet edgy, which has earned them the well deserved respect and an instant following in the L.A. music scene. The album takes you through a journey with extremely powerful and vigorous tracks like ‘Slip Away’, ‘Trust’ ‘Close To You’ and ‘Broken Wings’. On the contrary, the band plays deep, poignant and wrenching cuts such as ‘Seldom Bled’ and the Hoobastank- esque sounding ‘Ambition’. It’s amazing to hear the inspiration that bands like Nirvana and Tool have on Slant’s music. It’s heard most clearly in the vocals and they way they are delivered. ‘Happy’ is the most Nirvana influenced track on he album. I hear Tool influenced vocals in the hard-driving ‘Insight.

The diverse background of Slant's members and their strong influences from their respective countries is the spark that lights this audible flame. Rigid-hitting, melodic hard rock as its finest. Slant’s ‘A Thin Line’ is the fix music fans have been waiting for.


Rating: 4.5/5
Back

- Music Appraisal (6/17/2006)

With all due respect to the other bands that performed Friday night at the Whiskey A Go Go, it was evident that Slant was the main event.

Their presence oozed that sort of rock star charisma, drenching the air with anticipation and excitement. They kept the audience engaged and added fuel to the frenzy with a flawless performance. And to the passersby who arrived not knowing Slant from a hole in the wall, they left avid aficionados and self- proclaimed presidents of the fan club.

The only downside: well, every show has to end sometime.

As diverse and eclectic as the group is, they all fit together the way only bands that live past their first single could appreciate. Lead vocalist Fahim commandeered his position as front man with perfect vocals; Bassist Ilya made the soul pulse and vibrate; Guitarist Munir delivered impressive, fast paced guitar riffs; and drummer Andrew blew the crowd away with his mind numbing solos.

The glowing wristbands didn’t hurt either.

Inarguably the most touching moment of the evening was when Fahim’s cousin, Shawn Farhan, joined the group to perform “Beautiful Angel”, written in loving memory of their cousin, Monira Qutubudeian. The soulfully crafted lyrics reached out to anyone who has lost someone and revealed a softer more vulnerable side of the group.

Those in attendance no doubt counted their lucky underwear that they were able to see such raw talent in such an intimate setting. It’s safe to hold your breath while waiting for Slant to sell out major venue after major venue.

And save your kidneys. You may need to sell them to get tickets.

To listen to their latest tracks from their second album, “Slant” and keep up with the group, go to:

www.myspace.com/slantmusic
www.slantmusic.net

Review By: Keldine Hull

Official site link:http://skopemag.com/2009/09/29/keldine-hull-heads-out-to-whiskey-a-go-go-to-see-slant#more-14723 - Skope Mag. Keldine Hull