Ben Quad released their highly anticipated EP, ‘Ephemera’, via Pure Noise Records. This EP opens with heavy riffs and powerful lyrics in the hard-hitting track ‘I Did Not Create The Rules.’ The first line of the song (and the record), “It’ll be like this forever…” sets the stage for the main conflict of the entire album.
Ben Quad shared their insight on this opening track below: “We are forced to survive in the constant hell cycle that is late-stage capitalism. The record as a whole is an exploration of transience. The lines “Well let me just ask this. Are you only angry now? We’re living anxiously so why don’t we just burn this?” brings up the ideas of change and rejection of the status-quo. The title of the song, like our first screamo endeavor, ‘You’re Part of It,’ is a direct reference to the politically-focused song ‘American Hearts’ by Piebald.”
Leading up to the release of the EP, the band put out several other singles off the record, including the Deafheaven-inspired ‘Your Face As An Effigy’, the cathartic track ‘You’ll Get Nothing And Like It’, and the title track ‘Ephemera’.
Taking sonic cues from bands such as William Bonney, Pg. 99, and Underoath, Ephemera is Ben Quad’s momentary shift to a much more aggressive style than 2022’s ‘I’m Scared That’s All There Is’. Lyrically, the EP focuses on subjects such as societal decay, anger with one’s environment, and directing that anger into action. Many of the songs are astute indictments of modern society and political establishments.
Produced by longtime collaborator CJ Cochran from Outline In Color, the recording process was broken up by the band going on tour. That break allowed for extra contemplation and consideration about what they were making. The result is a set of songs that combines the personal and the political to devastating effect. While there are still hints of their old songs contained within ‘Ephemera’, the band present a new iteration of their sound with added chemistry and confidence.
Ben Quad is currently on tour supporting Prince Daddy & the Hyena for three more shows before kicking off the Pure Noise Tour with Microwave, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, and Just Friends on October 29th at Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama. The band also just announced a few headlining shows in select cities this December with support from TRSH and Summerbruise.
Upcoming Tour Dates w/ Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Heart To Gold, and Cliffdiver
October 25th – Area 15 – Las Vegas, NV
October 26th – Sunshine – Albuquerque, NM
October 28th – Growlers – Memphis, TN
Pure Noise Records Tour w/ Microwave, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Just Friends
October 29th – Iron City – Birmingham, AL
October 30th – House of Blues – New Orleans, LA
November 1st – Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX
November 2nd – Tulips – Fort Worth, TX
November 3rd – The Vanguard – Tulsa, OK
November 4th – Granada – Lawrence, KS
November 6th – Delmar Hall – St. Louis, MO
November 7th – Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA
November 8th – Turner Hall – Milwaukee, WI
November 9th – The Forge – Joliet, IL
November 10th – Elevation – Grand Rapids, MI
November 12th – Deluxe – Old National Centre – Indianapolis, IN
November 13th – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
November 15th – District Music Hall – Norwalk, CT
November 16th – Asbury Lanes – Asbury Park, NJ
November 17th – Mulcahy’s – Wantagh, NY
November 18th – The Recher – Baltimore, MD
November 20th – Canal Club (Upstairs) – Richmond, VA
November 21st – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
November 22nd – Music Farm – Charleston, SC
November 23rd – The Beacham – Orlando, FL
Headlining Tour Dates:
December 4th – The Regency Live – Springfield, MO
December 7th – Magic Stick – Detroit, MI
December 8th – Bottlerocket – Pittsburgh, PA
December 11th – Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
December 14th – Palladium – Worcester, MA
December 16th – Mahall’s – Lakewood, OH