Philly post-hardcore supergroup Bitter Branches, the band fronted by Deadguy/Kiss It Goodbye‘s Tim Singer that also features bassist/vocalist Dan Yemin (Paint It Black, Kid Dynamite, Lifetime), guitarists Matt Ryan (Cavalry) and Kevin Sommerville (Lighten Up!), and drummer Jeff Tirabassi (Walleye), have announced their sophomore album. It’s titled Let’s Give the Land Back to the Animals, and it was produced by another hardcore legend, J. Robbins of Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Government Issue, etc. It drops March 6 via Equal Vision (pre-order).
“On some of these songs, I let myself explore some dark thoughts in my head,” Tim says. “It’s not your typical belligerent music because there’s a lot of open space; it feels like it’s a bit more sinister.”
“On a fanboy level, especially for us old heads, it scratches that Jesus Lizard itch; a little bit of exploring a lane over there instead of the typical lanes,” he continues. “There’s a lot in that post-hardcore lane that we all love that I don’t think is explored enough … or at least not by the right people.”
About the subject matter, Tim adds, “I’m an angry vegan so there’s a little bit of that, but I’m also an angry environmentalist and anti-capitalist. A lot of that stuff we know is terrible we just gloss over and look the other way, myself included.”
“On our first record I feel like we were all trying to get our feet underneath it,” adds Jeff, “but on this one we really wanted to lean into the groove.”
The first two singles are “Basic Karate,” a sludgy post-hardcore dirge that definitely scratches the Jesus Lizard itch, and the faster, more chaotic “Cave Dwellers.” Both are great, and both can be heard below.
Tracklist
Rat Poison
Cave Dwellers
Pity Party
Basic Karate
Posture Contest
Everything Must Go
High Street
7-11
Fine Powder
Here Comes the Chisel