“The Ember Glows is just such a time-shifting device powered by the spiraling lead lines reminiscent of the early Cult sound, woven of the same ornate intricacies as Echo and The Bunnymen, as anthemic as The Mission at their most bombastic best" ~ The Big Takeover
"At the intersection between post-punk intensity, the romanticism of new wave and trippiness of psychedelic rock... their sound is more akin to late 20th century northern England" ~ The Spill Magazine
"Moodily brooding to dynamically vibrant songs that are drenched in ruminative baritone vocals, darkly shining guitars, low-register bass lines, and pushing drum beats" ~ The Record Stache
"Boasting a classic guitar-driven New Wave psych sound, the simple hooks, a pulsating rhythm section, textural guitar interplay, and baritone vocals bring to mind Echo & The Bunnymen, The Teardrop Explodes, U2, The Mission, and The Associates" ~ Post-Punk.com
Montreal-based indie rock / post-punk quartet The Ember Glows will soon release their new EP 'Where Spirits Play', recorded at Closet Studios in Montreal. Ahead of this, they present the single 'The Mirror'.
Formed in early 2019 by members of Montreal-based indie artists Room Control, REPO, Scene Noir and Citylake, The Ember Glows is Richard Bunze(guitar), Kevin Hills (bass), Martin Saint (vocals and guitar) and Dan Stefik(drums).
"This song is about how most nations carry skeletons in their closets - even the so-called peaceful ones. Sooner or later, we must face the weight of history and the past hits us hard collectively. We don’t shy away from difficult subjects, but neither do we wish to preach or claim to know better than anybody else. Such sensitive topics have to be handled with delicate taste and utmost respect," says frontman Martin Saint.
"The lyrics are only a personal reflection that came about some two years ago after some of my work in association with APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), but prior to the ghastly Canadian Residential School mass grave revelations. Musically, this kind of subject matter needed something driving, yet hypnotic enough, to really drive the point home. The song slowly builds up until we explode as a full band."
Just recently, the band released the single 'Silent Love', as well as issuing their 'Passerby' EP on cassette. Wearing their influences on their sleeves, you can hear elements of Simple Minds, The Cult, Echo and the Bunnymen, early U2, Nick Cave and The Mission at the fore.
With performances that make subtle use of dynamics and trace their roots to guitar-driven new wave, psych rock and 90’s British indie music, their recordings channel the feeling of being front and centre at one of their shows. The four-piece have crafted a sound that boasts simple hooks, a pulsating rhythm section, textural guitar interplay and baritone vocals.
Long-time friends since their teenage years, personal chemistry and musical synchronicity brought them together as The Ember Glows. With all four members also being part of other bands, what started as a side-project ultimately became everyone’s main music priority, fueled by their jointly-forged sound and corresponding adrenaline. Each member brings something different to the table - Rich with his knack for texture and big sound, Kevin’s rumbling groovy bass lines, Dan’s manic and melodic drumming, and Martin’s delicate lacing of baritone and jangly guitars.
The 'Where Spirits Play' EP will be released on September 23 and available from all fine digital stores, including via Bandcamp, where it can already be pre-ordered.
CREDITS
Recorded at Closet Studios by Daniel Karrasch and John Gurnsey
Record produced by Daniel Karrasch in Montreal
Richard Bunze - Lead Guitar
Kevin Hills - Bass
Martin Saint - Vocals, Guitar, Keys
Dan Stefik - Drums
All songs by The Ember Glows
Lyrics by Martin Saint
Music by The Ember Glows
Album photography, artwork & layout by Richard Bunze.
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