Official press release:
Southsea’s legendary Skate Punkers Sombulance return with the release of their forthcoming EP Lifer. It’s the first new music the band has released since their 2010 debut full length, A Cynic’s Response.
Lifer features 6 tracks of blistering double time punk which really captures the raw energy of the band’s live performance. It’s laden with riffs, melodic hooks and harmonies that’ll be looping round in your head for days. Founding member and guitarist Ant Harrison exclaimed:
“We’re excited and relieved to finally be releasing new music, and doing so through our friends label Lockjaw Records. We’ve actually been sitting on this EP for a while because it was written in the context of full length, but It made sense to record our six strongest songs to release for our Punk Rock Holiday appearance.”
Before hiatus in 2010 Sombulance released two EPs toured Europe in 2007 and 2009, and have shared the stage with A Wilhelm Scream, No Trigger, Set Your Goals, Swingin Utters, Toy Guitar, Strung Out, and a whole list of awesome skatepunk bands.
It was during the recording of the demos that Dean Harwood joined on vocals, replacing Rhys Hounsell who’d left to join the Royal Marines after the release of A Cynics Response. Harrison adds:
“At that point, the band had been on hiatus for several years and when we started jamming again, it was just Jon and I (drums and guitar) for a long time. Dean joining injected new energy into the band and it had a snowball effect gathering new members.”
One of the hold ups amidst relocations, separations, house renovations, masters degrees and running Portsmouth Punk Promotions was the departure of co-founding member, drummer and songwriter, Jon Moon, who’s final show with the band was supporting Strung Out last Summer.
After several months in limbo, Marc Morey from Almedia, stepped in to learn the songs in record time before the band went to record at the Ranch Production House in Southampton, notable for recording Darko, Creeper, Boston Manor and Milk Teeth.
“The six tracks are a pretty good representation of where the band has been the last few years and covers some difficult subjects.”
Following on from the last record, Lifer is also very personal and introspective and carries a common theme of dysfunction, communication breakdown and mental health; subjects that can be hard to talk about in everyday conversation.
“The writing process is always cathartic, and hopefully the lyrical content resonates with someone somewhere, on some level.”
A number of the songs on the record are about the breakdown of relationships through break down in communication, in part due mental health issues and it impacts ones ability to be present in the moment.
The songs mention the thoughts and feelings one holds inside, but fails to share – the inability to express loneliness and dissatisfaction and to ask for help, even at the most pivotal make or break moment, when it matters most.
Some of the songs were written during this time like “The Articulation of Afterthoughts” and other in retrospect so there’s some “it’s for the best” sentiments in there too to balance it out, which can be heard in songs like “Here’s To Liberation”. That particular song is also a mirror, or my response to a friend who went through a similar experience. It kind of flickers in between both our stories.
Lifer itself, or at least my interpretation of it as I didn’t write the lyrics to that is that it’s about regret and the anguish that regret has caused by a decision that can never be taken back and learning to live with the consequences. It’s a similar sentiment for “Better Left Behind”, where as that song seems to be more dealing with the anxiety experienced when left alone with your own thoughts in rumination.
“I’m sure the speed will appeal to the skatepunk fans and we also chose to include a slower, moodier track, which is actually one of my favourites. We consciously decided to dial back the tech a little on this record compared to the first and focus on writing better songs as a whole, with more memorable melodies, hooks and harmonies. I think we’ve started to find our sound and have developed a pallet of chords and progressions that I feel are pretty unique to us amongst our peers.”
After the band return from Punk Rock Holiday they’ll be playing a hand full of shows and then getting ready to record the next batch of songs. 2018 is looking to be the most productive year for Sombulance yet.
Pre-orders for the Lifer EP are available now at the label’s webshop and Bandcamp.
Lifer EP track listing:
1. “The Articulation Of Afterthoughts”
2. “Lessons Lost”
3. “Here’s To Liberation”
4. “Lifer”
5. “Downfall”
6. “Better Left Behind”
Sombulance is:
Dean Harwood – Vox
Ant Harrison – Guitar
Marc Morey – Drums
Chris Earle – Bass
Will Pearce – Guitar