There are only three lines of lyrics on this new track from Los Angeles psych-rockers Tombstones in Their Eyes, but they still get the point across pretty effectively. The final single from their forthcoming record Sea of Sorrow deals explicitly with using drugs to escape the painful parts of life. It’s an intense listen derived from band leader John Treanor’s experiences, so if you’re distressed by his explanation of the song’s genesis, “No One to Blame” may be a more comfortable listen. Both songs are taken from the sextet’s album due out next month, but there’s a satisfying heaviness to “Numb” that’s particularly alluring.
The video, by Treanor himself, is a real trip—those with photosensitive epilepsy may want to listen in a separate tab. Here’s Treanor on the song: “‘Numb’ is about taking drugs to kill the pain. Very simple and dark. It was written while on drugs. I don’t encourage anyone to take drugs. I spent a lot of my early years in that dark place, cleaned up, and stayed that way for many years. I never thought I'd go back to that, but, unfortunately, that was not the case. Fortunately, I'm back on track and doing well. The song is super personal, and even though it doesn't have many words, it resonates very deeply with me and the place I was in when I wrote it.
“The song is a snapshot of a point in time in my life, and the feelings are real,” he continues. “I think or hope that people can relate in some way to those feelings of pain and still take away some hope. Or at the very least feel like they’re not alone, as many of us have taken drugs or alcohol to kill the pain. That being said, it's not meant to be a glorification of using substances to kill pain, there are definitely healthier ways to deal with life and the feelings we experience.”
Sea of Sorrow is out Friday, May 16 via Kitten Robot Records.
