It’s always nice to have options, especially when your options are deciding which of two fresh songs from John Dwyer’s band of garage-post-punk misfits Thee Oh Sees to listen to first. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles-based group dropped a pair of brand-new songs: “Withered Hand” and “The Ceiling.”
“Withered Hand,” serendipitously the second track released from Mutilator Defeated at Last (after lead single “Web”), and second track in order on the group’s upcoming album, follows the previous single’s lead as a deeply textured track complete with a palpable frantic energy and loads of fuzzy reverb. Dwyer’s screams are filtered through guitar shredding and a driving beat that will not let up.
“The Ceiling,” on the other non-withered hand, is a melodic and slow jaunt back into the world of tracks like Putrifiers II‘s “Will We Be Scared?.” Harmonies and strategically placed strings swells playfully remind listeners of the softer and symphonic side of Thee Oh Sees. This dreamy number comes straight from Indianapolis record label Joyful Noise’s marriage equality and LGBTQ anti-discrimination compilation entitled 50 Bands & a Cat for Indiana Equality, which features unreleased tracks by acts like Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Of Montreal, Thurston Moore, and, of course, Lil Bub.
Mutilator Defeated at Last is due out on May 18 via Castle Face. 50 Bands & a Cat for Indiana Equality is out now via Joyful Noise.
