Avery ShepherdWhen Juna embarked on an unofficial hiatus in 2015, their return seemed unlikely. In addition to forming grindcore bruisers Malevich, drummer Sasha Schilbrack-Cole also united with guitarist and vocalist Hunter Whitehead and bassist Mikey Heptinstal to create the emo trio WF Addams. Meanwhile, guitarist Garrett Knighton joined forces with KyKy Renee Knight to make enchanting noise with Athens spellbinders Harlot Party. With so much focus spent on launching and nurturing these new projects, any plans to revive Juna were shelved and for three years it seemed like we’d heard the last of the group.
Juna – Charnel EP
But at the beginning of this year, the members gathered together and decided to make another go of it. What they soon discovered was their time away and pursuit of other outlets had eased much of the stress of the creative process, allowing for greater freedom and diversity in the band’s sound. “Coming back to Juna, I feel like we are more willing to push the music we are writing into different places,” says Schilbrack-Cole. “There’s a lot more influence of metal and screamo, and a willingness to explore the heavier moments in our sound, but I think the time off took a lot of the fear out of our writing process. We are more able and willing to let the music take the lead and be less worried about making the wrong decisions.”
Today, we’re excited to bring you an exclusive stream of Juna’s new two-song EP, Charnel. Meant both as a group “refresher” and a teaser for a forthcoming full length scheduled for release next summer, the tracks highlight a slight turn of direction from the moody emo the band has traded in the past. While the emphasis on taut rhythms and cathartic buildups remains, the guitars are louder and more muscular, the energy more combustive. Lead track “Wove” especially explores this newfound sense of thrusting buoyancy with an opening riff that scatters and explodes before settling into a murky mid-tempo groove. But while the change of pace allows the band to seek out new sounds and expand their aesthetic, thematically the songs stick to the dark introspection that Juna have long sought to incorporate into their music.
“Both songs deal with mortality, stability, and relationships, and the interplay of those concepts in my personal life,” Whitehead explains. “I moved to Atlanta at the start of 2017 and was struggling to find an emotional center I’ve always taken for granted. The move caused me to reflect on the events of my young adulthood leading up to where I was and I used these songs as an outlet for those reflections. ‘Wove’ deals with the chaotic nature of life paths and facing the end while ‘Permanence’ is more about the stability that can be found in relationships and the illusion of safety they provide.”
Listen to Charnel below.
In support of the new release, Juna are headed on tour for a week’s worth of shows. Kicking off with their release party next Wednesday at the Bakery, the tour will take the band up the East Coast, including performances in Washington, DC; Philadelphia; and Baltimore. Check out the full list of dates below.
Nov 14 – Atlanta, GA – The Bakery
w/ Super Unison, Playytime, Mercy
Nov 16 – Winston-Salem, NC – Delurk Gallery
w/ Basement Life, Drat the Luck
Nov 17 – Washington, DC – The Pinch
w/ Bound, Birds For Eyes, Replicant Eyes
Nov 18 – Philadelphia, PA
w/ stippling, Alula, tagabow
Nov 19 – Montclair, NJ – The Meat Locker
w/ Massa Nera, Our Wits That Make Us Men, Pale Shade
Nov 20 – Baltimore, MD
w/ Carl Gene, Pinkwench, Yume
Juna will celebrate the release of the Charnel EP on Wed., Nov. 14 at the Bakery alongside Super Unison, Playytime, and Mercy. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Admission is $7.
More Info
Bandcamp: juna-music.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @junatheband
Tumblr: juna-band.tumblr.com