Photo: Heath Metzger
Amblare, the self-titled album from the band of the same name, contains the final recordings of Hum drummer Bryan St. Pere, who played with the band in their original run and on Hum’s excellent reunion record, Inlet. Amblare operate in a similar territory of heavy, fuzzed-out rock that borders on shoegaze, building a moody atmosphere.
You can hear it on Amblare’s new single, “The Splits,” which comes ahead of the album’s April 5 release date. It’s a great example of how Amblare turn thick, almost sludgy, guitar riffs into the backdrop for frontman Matt McGuyer’s more melodic vocals. St. Pere and bassist Alex Wallwork underscore the heaviness without taking center stage; if you wish Hum were heavier or get into Failure or later Cave In, “The Splits” is for you.
“‘The Splits’ is about when you’re embracing your individuality to the point that you’re alienated from your circles of friends, and the loneliness that accompanies it,” McGuyer tells Decibel.
Embrace your individuality via the stream below. You can pre-order Amblare via Melodic Virtue.