TRACK PREMIERE: Empty Joy - Drowned

One of the more significant hurdles in adult life--or so I've been told--is the oppressive inevitably of the mundane. The dull monolithism of same old, same old. Day in, day out. I'll be the first to admit that, as a guy in my mid 20's trying to claw, with nail-bitten fingers, a little security in this overwhelming world for me and mine, my primary concern isn't mundanity, but rather reaching the tail end of these turbulent times in the first place.

​The point? If you find yourself at a stage in your life where the self-doubt, bewilderment, and constant sadness of early adulthood are less than crystal clear, Florida's own Empty Joy are here to offer up a little vicarious grief and agony. These guys are in the thick of it, and the emotive intentions of their first track--to "convey the complicated nature of sorrow in a traditionally happy time of the year"--are refreshingly genuine. In that unhappy spirit, we're happy to present today said debut track, the appropriately entitled Drowned. ​

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Noise? Post-rock? Drowned begins with the distortion-ridden mimicry of a overbearing steam engine, and then swiftly (d)evolves into a chaotic fray. Cranium-pulverizing bass and larynx-shredding screams--equally desperate in their execution--are punctuated with dizzying screeches and hums. The front half of the track is, much like its title, an exercise in asphyxiation, as Empty Joy present a sonic environment where rational thought is fraught, and where panic and fear are king. The second half, which deals in synths and seemingly open spaces, presents reprieve from the chaos--but all the same, it maintains a menacing air. Subtly suffocating, it's like the faux calm that follows an anxiety attack. All told, Drowned succeeds quite well at it's established goal, and while it undeniably remains a difficult listening experience...that's kinda the point, ain't it? 

​Drowned seems to defy genre. Noise? Post-rock? Hardcore? Realistically, this is the sound of sadness, grief, and anguish. Let's leave it at that. 

Give Drowned a listen below, and keep Empty Joy ​on your radar. A full length cometh. 

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Empty Joy can be found:
Bandcamp
Instagram