Let’s face it, Hollywood has produced some undeniably good shit over the years. You can add the new single from Jet Lag Fuel to that list. Formed in the spring of 2023, they have recently been operating as a quartet (more on that below) but are now a thriving five-piece. In this new configuration, the band has refined their distinctive 90s-indebted alt-rock/indie/grunge blend and, in adding a little more to the mix, they have come up with a bona fide gem in the form of Initiator.
After the departure of their original vocalist, Grady Geiger, Jacob Dendy (the band’s guitarist) temporarily took control of the frontman role too, moulding the act into a four-piece for the duration of 2025 (when we first encountered them – we reviewed them before, as it happens – you can read that here). As of spring this year, though, Florida-native Rob Liebelt has officially taken over the role of lead vocalist, and the band has re-established itself as a five-piece force to be reckoned with.
While clearly massive fans of the sound of the 90s – the influence of early Foo Fighters, Nirvana, and Heatmiser are ever present – we also detect whiffs of earlier rock gods like Fugazi, Mudhoney, and Hüsker Dü on the new tune.
Lyrically, we’re told it’s about “that moment when you know you need a change. You realize that it is easy to blame everyone and everything else, but the only way to change is to look inside and take responsibility for one’s own healing.”
“I broke my own heart” Liebelt bellows over their trademark combination of walls of thick distortion and thumping drums, and – in that moment – Initiator feels as anthemic as anything. Veering, one might suggest, into emo territory with lines like “what you feel, I feel it too” and the way in which they are delivered, the band really sounds like their new formation is working wonders for them. We’ll look forward to hearing more.
Written by Kinda Grizzly
