Falsely Accused amplify an explosive creative vision with the incendiary ‘Unbroken’
Blistering new EP from the New England trio harnesses a seismic rock and roll blast of alternative, psych, and grunge on Friday, January 31
‘Unbroken’ CD release party at Thirsty First in Lowell on Saturday, February 15
Listen to ‘A Drink Before the War’ and ‘Witches’ on Spotify
Photo Credit: Courtesy of the band
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BOSTON, Mass. [January 31, 2025] – On Falsely Accused’s blistering new EP, Unbroken, the cover art depicts a stylized image of a vinyl record shattering into a million pieces, a diagonal break blasting out a force of energy too difficult to control or contain. And once the listener presses play, it takes exactly 20 seconds to literally hear the explosion – translated into the New England alternative rock trio’s seismic sound via one of the most powerful guitar riffs to emerge from the Boston scene in some time.
That amplified riff, which follows a steady introductory buzz of tense static and crackling, emerges quickly from Falsely Accused’s incendiary September single “A Drink Before The War,” the lead track on Unbroken that sets a forceful tone for the EP and shifts the band’s ascent into overdrive.
Building on the buzz of that single and the gritty, weathered desert rock of October’s “Witches,” Falsely Accused are now set to unleash the EP in full, as Unbroken crashes the streams for digital release on Friday, January 31, ahead of the CD unveiling and record release party on Saturday, February 15 at Thirsty First in Lowell, alongside Derek Smith and the Cosmic Vultures and Adios Fatso. And between the digital release and the live show, the music video for “A Drink Before The War” hits YouTube on Tuesday, February 11.
Highlighted by WBUR, Boston’s NPR in its Winter Music Guide as “intelligent modern rock” from the “high-octane trio,” Unbroken is the official followup to Falsely Accused 2021 debut album Compression. The aforementioned singles have generated a healthy buzz for the band – drummer Mike Azzolino; bassist and vocalist Matt Tavano; and guitarist Mark Young – with Turn Up The Volume describing the music as “Black Sabbath on a stoner rock roll in hell” and New Noise Magazine praising the “powerful wall of sound” that emanates from the speakers.
“It’s been three years since our last record and to say we’re excited to get our new music out into the world would be an understatement,” admits Tavano. “We worked hard to create a record with new ideas, new sounds and concepts, not just rehashing the same sound from Compression. As we evolve, so must the music.”
The evolution heard on Unbroken pushes the band forward, with a sound that is also distinctly vintage as it is modern. Unbroken is an old-school rock and roll record, showcasing five tracks that deliver the listener along a sonic joyride through the highways of alternative, psych, grunge, desert rock, and whatever else comes to mind as the EP unfolds, culminating with a seven-minute psych-rock odyssey called “Soul Crush.”
There’s a slight departure from the blues rock of Compression, and that’s by design. After forming just ahead of the global pandemic, with Young completing the lineup after Tavano and Azzolino were looking for a fresh start after a previous project faded out, releasing the 2021 debut album allowed the trio to first crystallize their initial intent. But as the chemistry jelled and new creative ideas bubbled up to the songwriting horizon – as well as the experience of playing live around New Hampshire and Massachusetts as we emerged from the lockdown days – Falsely Accused’s collective creative vision expanded rapidly.
“After Compression came out we emerged from that process tighter as a group,” Tavano admits. “Unbroken required all of us to take leaps of faith in the writing and production. That requires a great deal of trust in each other. The release of Unbroken finds us all a little more refined and put together. When Compression came out, we were still a very new band, and now over three years, and a lot of shows later, I think we’re all more comfortable with each other and the music we create together.”
That confidence exudes from every riff, lyric, bassline and drum beat.
Recorded and engineered by Steve Aliperta at Kennedy Studios in Burlington, Massachusetts, and mastered by Dominik Honold at Protonaut Studios in Erkelenz, Germany, Unbroken is the sound of a band finding its groove-rock rhythm, but also its lyrical voice. Tavano wrote the lyrics on Compression as a reflection of him facing death and the inner, psychological emotions that come with it.
On Unbroken, the net is cast wide, and the subjects are those around him through the rigors of daily life: The fiery “A Drink Before The War,” its title inspired by the Dennis Lehane novel, is a love-letter to his wife about life’s shared battles, and how a couple, in good times and bad, must come together to face the adversity that lurks around every corner; and “Witches,” with its hypnotic grind a slow-burn tension, details Tavano’s personal experience with a road rage incident that nearly turned violent.
Of the EP’s new tracks, the loose, post-grunge glide of “Castaway” is about feeling stuck, either mentally or physically, and trying to get home at a time when getting home feels impossible. An arena-ready hard rock battlecry called “Drifting,” with backing vocals from Aliperta’s sibling Cam Threadgoode, is a statement to Tavano’s family – “they're the light that keeps me centered,” he adds, “the light guides me home” – that assures them he’ll always return home after a long day away.
And EP-closer “Soul Crush,” an extended, seven-minute journey that tested the band’s own limits in the recording process and broke all three out of some comfort zones, acts as a reminder that nothing is static, taking the listener through a metaphorical journey of human relationships and universal themes.
“Most of the lyrics come from places in my soul,” Tavano says. “On Compression, I talked about coming to terms with my own mortality and place in the world after very nearly leaving it. The lyrics on Unbroken come from a different place. Some are love songs, some about robberies, and some about just making it home after a long time on the road.”
And as the band lays out its new creative vision over an inspired 21 minutes, it’s hard to not go back to the Unbroken art as a proper metaphor for the music contained within. But it’s more than just an explosion, or a tearing away of past attitudes and approaches. And it has already sparked some internal discussion about its underlying messages.
“To me, it’s kind of like the ‘glass is half full’ metaphor,” says Azzolino. “When things might look broken, they aren’t… no one can take the songs and sound out of that broken album that are ingrained in your mind forever. Similar to memories when you lose someone, those are still yours, forever. That’s what it means to me. And I think that’s cool as fuck.”
Media Contact: Please direct press inquiries to Michael Marotta at michael@knyvet.com,
and reach Matt Tavano of Falsely Accused directly at info@falselyaccused.biz.
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Falsely Accused is:
Mike Azzolino: Drums, percussion, and backup vocals
Matt Tavano: Bass and lead vocals
Mark Young: Guitar and backup vocals
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‘Unbroken’ EP artwork:
Artwork by Matt Tavano
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‘Unbroken’ production credits:
Written and performed by Falsely Accused
Recorded and Engineered by Steve Aliperta at Kennedy Studios in Burlington, MA
Mastered by Dominik Honold at Protonaut Studios in Erkelenz, Germany
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‘Unbroken’ record release party:
Saturday, February 15 at Thirsty First in Lowell, MA
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Falsely Accused short bio:
Falsely Accused is an emerging alternative rock band in the Boston and greater New England area. The trio’s evolving style encompasses the energy of classic and modern rock and roll bands from Jimi Hendrix to The Black Keys, with a cultivated sound that is richly unique and entirely their own. Falsely Accused cite influences that range from early swamp blues and the edgier genres of hard rock to the life and lessons that surround them each and every day. The power trio consists of Mike Azzolino on drums and percussion and backup vocals; Matt Tavano on bass and lead vocals; and Mark Young on guitars and backup vocals. Debut album Compression arrived in 2021, followed by a holiday single the following year. A new single titled “A Drink Before the War” is due out in September 2024, followed by “Witches” the following month and a new EP in January 2025.
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Media praise for Falsely Accused:
“Black Sabbath on a stoner rock roll in hell.” _Turn Up The Volume
“They say write what you know. A harrowing road rage/robbery incident experienced by bassist and vocalist Matt Tavano of the Boston trio Falsely Accused inspired a searing song called ‘Witches.’ The message couldn’t be more clear as Tavano repeats his feelings toward the other driver: ‘I’ll see you in hell.’ It’s on the band’s upcoming EP, an offering of intelligent modern rock where compelling lyrics are front and center. Mike Azzolino, drums/percussion and backup vocals, and Mark Young, guitars and backup vocals, round out this high-octane trio.” _WBUR’s Winter Music Guide
“‘A Drink Before the War’ acts as an anthem for those who face life’s battles alongside a partner… The song opens with a lo-fi riff and the crackle of vinyl, creating a calm before unleashing a powerful wall of sound. This buildup mirrors the theme of preparing for battle.” _New Noise Magazine
“Falsely Accused vastly expanded their musical palette in 2024 with a pair of tracks (‘Witches’, ‘A Drink Before the War’) that dove headfirst into diversity for the premier Boston rawkers so if what’s included on the early 2025 release is anything like what dropped recently then we’re all the better for it!” _Rock And Roll Fables’ 2025 Music Preview
“A full glass of heavy, soulful alt-rock.” _The Whole Kameese
“‘A Drink Before the War’ sounds like that period in the mid 90's where grunge was starting to fade out but the music was still heavy. This is alt-rock inspired by grunge but starting to move on from the trappings of the genre. It’s like a less metal version of bands like Helmet and Quicksand, and the heavier side of a band like Hum. ‘A Drink Before the War’ is about as solid of a rock song as you’re going to get, and yes... it would make a great drinking song.” _If It’s Too Loud
“...at the very least you’ll end up with a new favorite song and band for 2024… [‘A Drink Before the War’ is] a mix of Alkaline Trio, Face To Face, and Sugar all at once but still uniquely Falsely Accused through and through.” _Rock And Roll Fables
“...a journey through the history of Fuzz-powered riff-Rock.” _Static Dive
“Falsely Accused is much more on the real gritty side of the heavy rock sound… Black Keys & such… a lil’ Zeppelin sprinkled in… some Queens, some Kyuss…that kinda vibe. For a debut, [Compression] is all-out spectacular…these guys are onto something significant with their band, sound, and style.” _Sleeping Bag Studios
“A single that acts as a transformative piece on the album, ‘Stay Gold’ is a brilliant shift from the caustic sounds of ‘Hellbound’ and ‘The Messenger’, delivering in their place a more expressive alt-rock and neo-blues sound. It’s a gorgeous piece of modern artistry, offering a unique glimpse into the band’s timeless inspirations, while also showcasing their own brilliant talents.” _Broken 8 Records
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Press Contact: Michael O’Connor Marotta at michael@knyvet.com
Band Contact: Matt Tavano at info@falselyaccused.biz
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