Both powerfully melodic and heavy, Wield shows the Philadelphia-based quintet mastering its craft of creating compelling melodies that sound larger than life.
On "Dancing at the End of the World," the band comments, "Though seemingly contrasting, 'dancing' and 'the end of the world' are brought together to symbolize our shared human capacity to transform pain and vulnerability into something profound and meaningful when facing overwhelming adversity. 'Dancing at the End of the World' represents an act of defiant optimism to find hope in the face of hopelessness. It's a conscious choice to find light in darkness, and to not to be consumed by despair, even when all hope seems lost, even when it feels like the end of the world."
2022 saw Hiroe burst onto the scene with an explosive debut EP full of soaring anthems and sublime soundscapes. Combining the sonic expansiveness of Deftones with the dynamic heaviness of bands like Isis and Caspian, Hiroe immediately already figured out how to make the most majestic sounding post-rock early in their career.
"Our first release, Wrought, was a statement of creation," explains principal songwriter and guitarist Eric Kusanagi.
For the recording of Wield, Jill Paslier moved from bass to guitars, with Brian Kong (guitars), Jon Seiler (bass) and Dan Sagherian (drums) joining to complete the lineup. Produced once more by Mario Quintero (Spotlights), Wield capitalizes on everything the band learned in the creation of its predecessor, adding to it a new focus on textural intricacies and compositional detail.
"We wanted to show a larger range of musical themes on this record," continues Kusanagi. "You'll hear us dive into some synth work, some piano work, some really interesting effects that Mario helped us dial up."
As a result, Wield packs in a huge range of details, which reveal themselves over repeated listens.
Nevertheless, Wield is still an affair of instant gratification for fans of guitar driven post-rock. From the soaring leads of "Tides" to the epic finale of "I've Been Waiting For You All My Life," Hiroe show they've upped their game in every department, but especially that which tugs at your heartstrings.
Wield presents the brave new future we all need in these confusing times. A new American frontier on which we can build our wildest dreams and our most daring ambitions.
HIROE ON TOUR:
6/6 — Baltimore, MD — Monument City Brewing
6/7 — Washington, DC —The Pocket
6/13 — Brooklyn, NY — Gold Sounds
6/14 — Boston, MA — Deep Cuts
6/20 — Harrisburg, PA — JB Lovedraft’s
6/21 — Lancaster, PA — The Upside
6/27 — Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie
6/28 — Pittsburgh, PA — Ormsby's
7/23 — Indianapolis, IN — Black Circle (Post-Fest Pre-Show)