Narrows

When international hardcore group Narrows christened their debut album New Distances back in 2009, the title described the geographic challenge faced by the band--vocalist Dave Verellen (Botch, Roy) and Ryan Frederiksen (These Arms Are Snakes, nineironspitfire) reside in Seattle, bassist Rob Moran (Unbroken, Some Girls, Over My Dead Body) and drummer Sam Stothers (Makeout Boys, Quarantine) live in San Diego, and guitarist Jodie Cox (Tropics, Rohame, Bullet Union) lives in London. But the title also indirectly referenced Verellen’s recurring lyrical themes of loss. Both meanings made their mark on the band; the logistical obstacles of distance and the pervasive tone of grief lent a sense of immediacy and volatility to their angular hardcore songs. While every bit as sonically vitriolic as their past endeavors, Painted attempts to focus its energy rather than lash out blindly. Songs like “Greenland” and “It’s The Water” still weigh in with bottom-heavy instrumentation, but lyrically look towards brighter horizons. Though the band seeks to close the emotional divide it basked in on their debut, the primary meaning behind New Distances couldn’t be more pertinent to the... more...