Category: Slug Comparison

0 Out Now! FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON’s New EP “Cold in Cold out”

September 10, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Slug Comparison

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 10, 2026

Out Now! FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON’s New EP “Cold in Cold out”

Doug Harrison – Photo Credit – Peter Wiholm

Canadian (Victoria, BC) songwriter Doug Harrison, best known as the vocalist for progressive rock/metal band Fen, unveils his solo project Slug Comparison’s new EP, “Cold in Cold out,” available everywhere now. The six‑track collection marks a deliberate shift back toward the project’s introspective, atmospheric roots, trading electric urgency for slow‑burn emotional weight.

Moving away from the upfront rock production of his 2025 album “A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife”, this new offering of “Cold in Cold out” leans into the spacious, layered acoustic textures reminiscent of Fen’s “Trails Out of Gloom” that was released on Ripple Music. Across its six tracks, the EP dwells in a depressive, reflective territory, an environment Harrison admits he’s glad to return to. Harrison encourages listeners to experience the EP in full.

“These songs rely more on mood than hooks. The instant gratification isn’t there. The songs are a slow release. For best results, they should be listened to all in a row, privately, and in headphones,” adds Harrison.

The EP’s writing process was an experiment in speed, an attempt to break the long gaps between Fen and Slug Comparison releases. Harrison set out to write and record several songs within a year, ultimately overshooting by only a few months. For the EP, he also collaborated with drummer Randall Stoll (Boulevard, KD Lang, Tom Cochrane), who brought the songs to life in the studio, while Sheldon Zaharko added depth and character through mixing. Harrison handled all writing, arrangement, and instrumentation before drums were added.

The EP unfolds as a sequence of stark, emotionally charged vignettes. “Tongue of the Hollow” opens the record with an acoustic homage shaped by a verse riff echoing Nirvana’s “Something in the Way,” lyrically telling the story of a dying man surrounded by bewildered cats and soothed only by the upstairs neighbour’s nightly singing. “To Whom Would You Answer” relives a spiraling closed-door encounter with gatekeepers bent on extracting an assurance of loyalty. “Back to the World” reflects on reconnecting with an old friend who has survived a dark chapter, stirring guilt, hope, and a confrontation with one’s own neglected demons. “Burden of Life” deepens the EP’s somber emotional terrain, while the title track “Cold in Cold out” meditates on the lonely trial of human existence, its pain, exhaustion, fleeting wonder, and the recurring question of how long it all must continue. The closing piece “No Healer” follows a fevered final journey beneath a jungle canopy, surrendering to whatever forces guide the end of one’s existence.

Recommended for fans of Nirvana, Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Fen, and Mark Lanegan, “Cold in Cold Out” offers a brooding, introspective journey into Harrison’s most personal and imaginary songwriting yet.

“Cold in Cold Out” is now on all major streaming platforms.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/6lN49YhB6T8TzH5R7IpBJD

Bandcamp – https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/album/cold-in-cold-out

Single Stream – Tongue of the Hollow – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUziXxuV0uY

Track Listing:
1. Tongue of the Hollow (4:01)
2. To Whom Would You Answer (3:47)
3. Back to the World (4:03)
4. Burden of Life (4:44)
5. Cold in Cold out (5:31)
6. No Healer (4:36)
EP Length: 26:42

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by Slug Comparison
• All songs written by Doug Harrison
• Produced by Doug Harrison
• Mixed by Sheldon Zaharko
• Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
• Album Artwork by Inkantation
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Lineup:
Doug Harrison: vocals, guitar, bass, programming, songwriting, production
Randall Stoll: drums

More info:

https://www.instagram.com/slugcomparison

https://www.facebook.com/slugcomparison

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“A moment with SLUG COMPARISON has always been an emotional and musical exploration from the heart of one of rock’s finest songwriters and Cold in Cold out continues that particular seduction to offer one seriously thrilling and inspiring proposal.” – The Ring Master Review

“so much emotion, so much to ponder, so much complexity even while on the surface seeming so simple.” –Stephen Conrad, Prog Archives

“a mix of Pink Floyd and Simon & Garfunkel.” –Melodic.net

“un superbe album.” –Prog Et +

“The album takes us through the self-doubt, denial, and defiance of the artist and is another mini-masterpiece delivered under the Slug Comparison banner. 10/10” –SonicAbuse

“In no way “progressive” in the traditional sense, there is a depth to each composition, and a variation in styles across the album, that rewards careful listening.” –DPRP

“Harrison’s voice tends to have a grungy quality, but it also unfolds in epic, theatrical, or simply beautifully melodic ways.” –Musikreviews (translated from German)

“modern, emotionally rich, and laced with just enough grunge to hit us right in the feels.” –Mandatory Music

“The highlight is a twisted power ballad about having much too much of a good thing (Too Much Love).” –Here Comes the Flood

“progressive and alternative inclinations align with dark rock, punk and other rich hues. It makes for a palette of surprise and unpredictable adventure” –The RingMaster Review

“One of my favourite songs of the year” (about “Bringer of Doom”) –Dutch Progressive Rock Radio

“Simply engulfs the imagination and emotions” -The Ringmaster Reviews

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0 FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON Pays Homage To NIRVANA w/ Single “Tongue of the Hollow” From New EP “Cold in Cold out” Out Sept 2026

August 7, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Slug Comparison · Uncategorized

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 7, 2026

FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON Pays Homage To NIRVANA w/ Single “Tongue of the Hollow” From New EP “Cold in Cold out” Out Sept 2026

Doug Harrison – Photo Credit – Peter Wiholm

Canadian songwriter and multi‑instrumentalist Doug Harrison, best known as the vocalist for progressive rock/metal band Fen, returns with a new chapter of his solo project Slug Comparison. The project’s new single, “Tongue of the Hollow,” is the first preview of the upcoming EP “Cold in Cold out, set for release on September 10th, 2026.

“Tongue of the Hollow” began as an unexpected homage to Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.” Harrison noticed the similarity early in the writing process, but chose to embrace it, adding chord changes and letting the influence guide the song’s mood.

“As I was writing this song, I realized early on that the verse riff was way too similar to Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.” I could have abandoned the idea right there, but then I added a few chord changes (I don’t have Kurt’s gift for writing a song with only two chords), so I decided to keep going and let it be an homage. I was huge into Nirvana for a few years, so it made sense that my appreciation was coming out this way. As far as lyrics, I had no idea what “Something in the Way” was about, and that freed me to fumble my way down a different path, while staying true to the vibe of the original,” says Harrison.

Lyrically, the track tells the story of a bedridden apartment dweller nearing death, surrounded by cats who no longer understand why their owner can no longer care for them. His only solace comes at night, when the upstairs neighbour walks the creaking floorboards and sings. The result is a slow‑burning, melancholic piece that leans into Slug Comparison’s signature dark, brooding, introspective, depressingly uplifting sound.

Listen to “Tongue of the Hollow” at the following links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/2TOTjDogOn2pbyj5Ki9CD1

Bandcamp – https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/track/tongue-of-the-hollow

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUziXxuV0uY

Slug Comparison‘s new EP “Cold in Cold Out” is a shift away from the electric, rock‑forward production of his 2025 album “A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife.” Instead, “Cold in Cold out” returns to the spacious, layered acoustic textures reminiscent of Fen’s “Trails Out of Gloom.”

“These songs rely more on mood than hooks. The instant gratification isn’t there. They’re slow release,” adds Harrison.

The EP’s six tracks dwell in depressive territory and are best experienced privately, in sequence, and through headphones. Harrison intentionally selected fragments with minimal rock riffage, choosing the moody, unironic, humorless pieces that fit the EP’s emotional landscape.

While Slug Comparison is primarily a solo effort, collaboration for this EP with drummer Randall Stoll (Boulevard, KD Lang, Tom Cochrane) brought the songs to life in the studio, and Sheldon Zaharko added his own touch through mixing.

Overall, the EP blends personal, imagined, and semi‑imagined lyrical narratives, with a heavier emphasis on fictional storytelling than Harrison’s previous work.

Slug Comparison began when Doug Harrison realized he was writing more material than he could bring to Fen during the creation of their 2012 album “Of Losing Interest.” What started as overflow quickly became its own creative outlet, an environment where Harrison could develop songs independently, shaping every instrument and texture without needing to fit them into Fen’s framework.

“I started taking songs further and further on my own. Eventually I realized I couldn’t bring them to the band without dictating what people played. A solo project seemed like a good option,” explains Harrison.

After experiencing long stretches between releases, twelve years between Fen albums and six years between Slug Comparison records, Harrison challenged himself to write and record new material within a single year.

“It was a ton of work. But the experiment suggests I might be able to record all my songs before time runs out for me.” Harrison adds.

With roots that draw from prog, alt, and grunge, Slug Comparison is recommended for fans of Nirvana, Puscifer, Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Fen, and Mark Lanegan.

“Cold in Cold Out” marks Harrison’s tenth recording across Fen and Slug Comparison, and his most mood‑driven, acoustic‑layered work in years.

Due out on September 10th, 2026, the EP is available for pre-order at https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/album/cold-in-cold-out