Since dropping Spit. in 2020, WARGASM have barely stopped for a breather. Fusing rap-metal with rave-punk, garage and plenty of monstrosity, the London duo comprising Sam Matlock and Milkie Way have been a mainstay on the festival circuit, in between touring – and collaborating – with the likes of Corey Taylor and Limp Bizkit.
When killer 2023 debut LP Venom landed, it confirmed WARGASM’s trajectory as assuredly upward – on the cusp of exponential, perhaps. That’s the exact shape that Sam tries to draw with his hand across a Zoom screen, speaking to K! alongside Milkie.
“We were doing this thing, and it was resonating,” he reflects. “And then we started working with some [people in] suits, and that stopped. I feel like someone might have sat in our chairs. We would like our thrones back, please.”
Newly independent and free from the industry machine, WARGASM have returned with a breathless single titled Vigilantes. They even dropped the music video one day early, because that’s the type of move you can pull when you’re back in the driver’s seat. “I am the captain now,” Milkie reminds the world…
How’s the mood in camp WARGASM as you unleash Vigilantes?
Milkie Way: “Well, it also happens to be our first single as a now-independent band-”
Sam Matlock: “Again. Back to being independent.”
Milkie: “We are so back, baby! It’s exhausting but gratifying, and it feels good to be in control again, and not have to deal with so much red tape bullshit.”
Sam: “It was time for WARGASM to evolve. There was some stuff holding us back, and sonically, we wanted to go to a different place. We were always in control of the music, but now we're in control of fucking everything again, which is wicked.”