In January of last year, Connecticut’s En Masse put out their excellent eight-track debut Burdened Youth, a whirlwind of ferocious screams, technical precision, and abrupt dynamic shifts. There are a lot of moving pieces that made Burdened Youth so arresting, and a lot of it comes down to vocalist Zack Santiago, who has the same unhinged, volatile magnetism that made Jason Aalon Butler of letlive. such a beloved frontman. It’s hard not to feel the whole band’s passion on a track like “Mixtape Nostalgia,” which strikes a nice balance between pulverizing, claustrophobic heaviness and airy, effortless hookiness.
The band is back today with a new standalone single, and we’re excited to premiere its video. It’s called “[masq],” and it’s another bold step forward for the band, embracing moodier, more textured sounds–think of the jump from Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence and Worship & Tribute. About “[masq],” the band shares, “There are a lot of people who pride themselves on their ignorance while insisting said ignorance to be true and having little to no idea about what they’re talking about. Instead of engaging in petty quarrels and pointless debates, let’s focus on taking our power back that is actively being eroded globally by oppressive forces.”
It’s yet another winner from En Masse, who are quickly becoming one of the most exciting groups in the post-hardcore space. Fans of bands ranging from Foreign Hands to If I Die First should find something to love in “[masq].” Check out the single and its video below, and be on the lookout–En Masse has hinted that there’s more to come.
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Zac Djamoos | @gr8whitebison
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