You could make the case that Hard Chiller is like an alt-rock Run the Jewels—the whimsical project of two vets of the genre building a playful collaboration upon their mutual interests which quickly grows to a level of significance that eclipses both artists’ respective previous accomplishments. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here, considering that Steve Choi and Joe Vannucchi have probably accomplished more significant feats than backing OutKast and soundtracking a brief underground renaissance, given that the former helped lead the proggy ska ensemble Rx Bandits to crossover acclaim over the past 20 years or so, and the latter has fronted the groundbreaking emo/post-rock troupe From Indian Lakes for nearly as long.
Yet the pair’s debut EP Heavy Cell is a promising look at what it sounds like when their powers are combined, exploring as it does unique terrain landing between shoegaze, hardcore, and post-rock. Backed by percussionist Casey Deitz and bassist Roger Camero, their second single “Close By” raises the stakes with more dramatic verses anticipating the heavy breakdown of the chorus. “‘Close By’ was the second song we put together, and it really solidified our vibe,” Vannucchi shares. “When I was sent this song, I messaged Steve and told him that I would love it if the songs kept getting heavier and heavier like this, and leaned into the classic hardcore riffs even more, and after ‘Close By’ was finished it was obvious that we were going to have a lot of fun doing rocker shit together.”
The track comes paired with an eerie video directed by Sierra Arnold, which is truly on some best-of-time/worst-of-times shit. Check that out below, and pre-order the Heavy Cell EP here.
