I wrote about this Montreal-based (Let’s go Habs!) emo math rock band back in October. I have been taking a break from writing as we are growing, and there is more editorial and managerial work, so I barely find time to write about new music. The newest single, dropped on February 14th, will be the first off their debut EP, releasing April 25th.
The group features co-lead guitarists Jeffrey Lehberg and Sehmim Al, who trade riffs and melodies beneath Alex Kofman’s searing vocals.
It draws inspiration from classic Midwest emo and technical math rock, including bands such as TTNG, Delta Sleep, and CHON. I needed to Google those artists as they slipped my radar.
The bands also shared more about the song, saying that “it blends tapping, odd meters, and progressive song structure with a lot of catchy melodies, and it is also our first fully through-composed piece of music.”
In addition to the quote above, they shared another quote about the lyrics, and I am sharing it in full, as it offers a nice dive into their meaning. I shared them below so you can follow them while listening.
“Lyrically, ‘Mighty’ delves into the theme of legacy and self-awareness. It questions the pursuit of fame and immortality, highlighting the importance of staying true to oneself and not being consumed by the desire for external validation. The lyrics allude to the 1817 poem ”Ozymandias” to stress the consequences of prioritizing superficial achievements over genuine self-discovery and personal growth, emphasizing the fleeting nature of worldly success compared to the enduring impact of authenticity and inner strength.”
I feel like the math rock is always mostly about guitars, but for me, emo music in general is always about the lyrics. Most of the time, they are channeling emotions that I want to scream out loud. I have had a hard week in my day job, doing things that I do not want to do but need to. Exhausted from fighting the system, a song like this helps me channel my emotions and lose myself in amazing guitar riffs. I have been truly captivated by them, and even the guitar solo in the second half of the song was amazing. I have to admit, I am not the biggest fan of solos in general.
I am really excited to listen to the new EP, as this first single already promises a lot, and I love the energy this band is bringing to the genre. They are demonstrating they have the skills to stand out from the crowd.
The Canadian music scene has always been dear to me, and I have been closely following the Montreal scene as well, not just because of my favorite player, Slafkovsky. I have never visited the city, but it would be superb to go to a local venue and enjoy this band playing live. Raw emotions of guitars and vocals would fully envelop me. What a memory it would be.
If in a hundred years
Your name remains in nazca sand
Our words don’t carry them away
You wouldn’t live to see that day
Say now your true beliefs
Cause I don’t think you know yourself
Stamped on these lifeless things
Your words they cast a shallow spell
Stand now for your own way
Or fall to every devil’s heal
What would you have a hundred years
Or would you want to see that day
Have the
Courtesy to aim
For my chest
Next time
You find yourself
Holding
Holding a knife
And if
You truly wish to be
Immortalized forever
I’ve heard hell
Comes with eternal life
You seek to command time
When you cannot command yourself
Forfeit your kingdom for a shrine
Where fools secure your piece of hell
Is this the point of life
To seek fame and glorification
Who I knew’s not who you are
All in the name of self-preservation
You had no time
You chose a void
And your bloodline will end
By choices you have employed
Written by Filip Zemcik
