Ben Quad Release New EP “Ephemera”.
Ben Quad/Photo Credit: Kam Coker
Ben Quad release their highly anticipated new EP, Ephemera, via Pure Noise Records. The vinyl of the EP is available to order now on their website or stream.
This EP opens with heavy riffs and powerful lyrics in the hard-hitting track I Did Not Create The Rules. The first line of the song (and the record),“It’ll be like this forever...” sets the stage for the main conflict of the entire album. Ben Quad shared their insight on this opening track below:
“We are forced to survive in the constant hell cycle that is late-stage capitalism. The record as a whole is an exploration of transience. The lines “Well let me just ask this. Are you only angry now? We’re living anxiously so why don’t we just burn this?” brings up the ideas of change and rejection of the status-quo. The title of the song, like our first screamo endeavor,“You’re Part of It,” is a direct reference to the politically-focused song “American Hearts” by Piebald.”
Leading up to the release of the EP, the band put out several other singles off the record, including the Deafheaven-inspired Your Face As An Effigy, the cathartic track You’ll Get Nothing And Like It, and the title track Ephemera. Their latest releases have received recognition from the likes of UPROXX, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine, among others.
Taking sonic cues from bands such as William Bonney, Pg. 99, and Underoath, Ephemera is Ben Quad's momentary shift to a much more aggressive style than 2022's I'm Scared That's All There Is. Lyrically, the EP focuses on subjects such as societal decay, anger with one’s environment, and directing that anger into action. Many of the songs are astute indictments of modern society and political establishments.
Produced by longtime collaborator CJ Cochran from Outline In Color, the recording process was broken up by the band going on tour. That break allowed for extra contemplation and consideration about what they were making. The result is a set of songs that combines the personal and the political to devastating effect. While there are still hints of their old songs contained within Ephemera, the band present a new iteration of their sound with added chemistry and confidence.
Ben Quad is currently on tour supporting Prince Daddy & the Hyena for three more shows before kicking off the Pure Noise Tour with Microwave, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, and Just Friends on October 29 at Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama. The band also just announced a few headlining shows in select cities this December with support from TRSH and Summerbruise.
