Ezekiel J Rudick, the frontman and main songwriter behind the Portland-based dark indie rockers, Young Elk, dedicates the band's new seven-inch, Cheap Beer to his hometown of Rainier, Washington. It finds the band in a full-on existential mode, dark and brooding, not unlike the musing and ponderousness of their debut album, The Dark Side of the Holy Ghost which came out in late 2016.
The title track, set in a redneck small town in the pacific northwest, contemplates on mankind's mortal nature and exudes realness through its potent lyricism and the band's poignant delivery. If side-A is not enough to crush your unyielding soul into a pulp, stay tuned for the b-side on which Young Elk lovingly cover slowcore heroes, Low, and their jewel from 2003, Murderer.
Carrying their shoegaze, slowcore and Americana influences with competence, on their latest outing the quartet sound as effective on their original as they do on their well-chosen cover. The heaviness of the strong emotions the band conveys on both tracks can be massive even for those accustomed to the melancholy which usually comes with such an amalgamation of characterful styles, still, it is well strung together, firmly delivered and an all-around compelling listening experience.
The single comes out February 17th 2018 on limited edition lathe cut 7-inch vinyl.
Pre-orders
Young Elk website
ZR