Last year, as June was coming to a close, we introduced our readers to a new local shoegaze outfit called After Care and their majestic debut American Sushi Sessions. For a period of several months it appeared the band was well on their way to making a significant splash in Atlanta, playing out regularly and earning an opening slot or two for some well-respected headliners. But like so many artists before them, the group was beset by ideological differences and they eventually disbanded, deleting their social and Bandcamp accounts along the way (you can still stream American Sushi Sessions on Spotify).
“After Care split pretty suddenly after some pretty cliché musical differences,” explains former guitarist/vocalist Benjamin Lande. “Bands require a lot of compromise and communication. The four of us were all extremely opinionated, which lead to some great music, but also hurt us in the end. I am still friends with Joey [McMichen] and James [Cramer] and am really proud of what we did with After Care.”
In the aftermath of the breakup, however, Lande joined forces with former bandmate Matthew Karoglou (drums), along with guitarist/vocalist Justin Jackson and bassist Rachel Vandiver, to create a new project called Smother. The foursome recently completed the recording of their debut EP, What You Amount To, with engineer and Big Jesus guitarist CJ Ridings at the helm, and today we’re stoked to bring you the premiere of the record’s first single “Patches & Stitches.”
Sharing a mutual love for '90s alternative and grunge, Smother cites such key influences as Smashing Pumpkins, Hum, and Failure, which you can certainly hear in the band’s textured riffs and overarching soft-loud dynamics. Although After Care’s moody ambience remains largely intact, what sets this track apart is the impeccable denseness of the guitars, and the way they roar and recede against the immutable pull of the band’s spacious songwriting. Much like Hum’s Matt Talbot, the vocals here are flat and brooding, squeezing out just enough melody to counter the atmospheric heaviness that threatens to rain down at every moment. As an debut, it’s a song brimming with beauty and thunderous potential; let’s just hope Smother stick around long enough to see it through.
What You Amount To is out June 18.
Smother will make their live debut on Fri., June 29 at the Masquerade when they play in support of Forth Wanderers and Ammonia Wash. Doors open at 7 p.m. Admission is $10. All ages.
More Info
Bandcamp: smotheratl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @smotheratl