diff --git a/script.js b/script.js
index 5f87a36..49b9f3a 100644
--- a/script.js
+++ b/script.js
@@ -523,26 +523,44 @@ var si = 0,
                     c.el.classList.add('server-best');
                   }
                 });
-                /* Preload city image and animate reveal */
+                /* Preload city image and carousel-slide */
                 var hero = document.querySelector('.hero');
                 var bestCard = cards.filter(function(c) { return c.server.host === best.host; })[0];
                 if (hero && bestCard && heroImages[best.host]) {
                   var img = new Image();
                   img.onload = function() {
-                    /* Reveal overlay — slides left-to-right via clip-path */
-                    var reveal = document.createElement('div');
-                    reveal.className = 'hero-city-reveal';
-                    reveal.style.backgroundImage = "url('" + heroImages[best.host] + "')";
-                    hero.appendChild(reveal);
-                    /* Label — slides right-to-left simultaneously */
+                    /* Create background container on first swap */
+                    var bg = hero.querySelector('.hero-bg');
+                    if (!bg) {
+                      bg = document.createElement('div');
+                      bg.className = 'hero-bg';
+                      hero.insertBefore(bg, hero.firstChild);
+                    }
+                    /* Old slide — starts at current position, slides out right */
+                    var oldEl = document.createElement('div');
+                    oldEl.className = 'hero-bg-slide old';
+                    oldEl.style.backgroundImage = "url('images/city-amsterdam.jpg')";
+                    bg.appendChild(oldEl);
+                    /* New slide — starts off-screen right, slides in */
+                    var newEl = document.createElement('div');
+                    newEl.className = 'hero-bg-slide new';
+                    newEl.style.backgroundImage = "url('" + heroImages[best.host] + "')";
+                    bg.appendChild(newEl);
+                    /* Fire both animations together */
+                    requestAnimationFrame(function() {
+                      oldEl.classList.add('out');
+                      newEl.classList.add('in');
+                    });
+                    /* Label slides in from right */
                     var label = document.createElement('div');
                     label.className = 'hero-city-label';
                     label.innerHTML = 'Our <strong>' + bestCard.server.city + '</strong> server fits your location';
                     hero.appendChild(label);
                     requestAnimationFrame(function() {
-                      reveal.classList.add('open');
                       label.classList.add('visible');
                     });
+                    /* Clean up old slide after animation done */
+                    setTimeout(function() { oldEl.remove(); }, 1200);
                   };
                   img.src = heroImages[best.host];
                 }
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index 2fc0eb5..5fc868f 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -112,10 +112,37 @@ img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; }
   content: '';
   position: absolute;
   inset: 0;
-  background: var(--hero-bg, url('images/city-amsterdam.jpg')) center/cover no-repeat;
-  opacity: 0.12;
+  background: var(--midnight);
+  opacity: 0.6;
   z-index: 0;
-  transition: background-image 0.8s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+}
+.hero-bg {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  z-index: 0;
+  overflow: hidden;
+}
+.hero-bg-slide {
+  position: absolute;
+  inset: 0;
+  background-size: cover;
+  background-position: center;
+  background-repeat: no-repeat;
+  opacity: 0.12;
+  transition: transform 1s cubic-bezier(0.16, 1, 0.3, 1);
+  will-change: transform;
+}
+.hero-bg-slide.old {
+  transform: translateX(0);
+}
+.hero-bg-slide.old.out {
+  transform: translateX(100%);
+}
+.hero-bg-slide.new {
+  transform: translateX(100%);
+}
+.hero-bg-slide.new.in {
+  transform: translateX(0);
 }
 .hero .container { position: relative; z-index: 1; flex: 1; display: flex; flex-direction: column; justify-content: center; }
 .hero-kicker {
@@ -377,21 +404,6 @@ img { max-width: 100%; height: auto; vertical-align: middle; }
   }
 }
 
-.hero-city-reveal {
-  position: absolute;
-  inset: 0;
-  background-size: cover;
-  background-position: center;
-  background-repeat: no-repeat;
-  opacity: 0.12;
-  z-index: 0;
-  clip-path: inset(0 100% 0 0);
-  will-change: clip-path;
-  pointer-events: none;
-}
-.hero-city-reveal.open {
-  clip-path: inset(0 0 0 0);
-}
 .hero-city-label {
   position: absolute;
   bottom: 2rem;