The Endorphins unleash a high-impact wave of societal fuzz on ‘Nothing Is Real’
Boston psych-punk band unveils propulsive new album on Friday, November 11
SPOTIFY . BANDCAMP . YOUTUBE . INSTAGRAM . TWITTER . FACEBOOK . MULTI-LINK
“The Endorphins is the only rawk you’ll need in 2022 and ‘Nothing Is Real’ proves why”
– Rock And Roll FablesListen to fall singles ‘Voyager Of A Daydream’ and ‘Myopic Dystopia’ on Spotify
Photo Credit: Matt Bass Media
BOSTON, MA [November 11, 2022] – Flip to the back cover of The Endorphins’ new album Nothing Is Real, and this message scrolls across from one top corner to the other: “Warning: This product was created using artificial intelligence.” Underneath that artistic decree, the stacked song titles of the record’s 12 tracks read out like chapters in a dystopian sci-fi novel – “Anthrophobia”, “Introspective Dread”, and “Time Is Out Of Your Control” flash in all-caps as just a sample of what’s contained within.
And like the fears we carry inside our heads as we canvass an uneven and restless world, what resides inside is fighting to escape. Nothing Is Real is unleashed to the masses on November 11, the Boston psych-punk band’s aggressive observation of modern society and what it’s done to us as people.
Fueled by endless bottles of Topo Chico and recorded at The Bridge Sounds & Stage in Cambridge with producer Alex Allinson, The Endorphins’ new album is a blistering rock and roll album of high-impact waves of fuzz that reflects our paranoid time. And it starts with the record’s title, Nothing Is Real, pulled from a lyric in October single “Myopic Dystopia.”
“It’s getting harder and harder to tell what's real anymore,” says guitarist and vocalist Matt Bass. “It feels like honesty and integrity are becoming less and less prevalent. There are a lot of things outside of our control; this record pulls a lot of the feelings we have as a band.”
A tone for Nothing Is Real was set in September, when The Endorphins released lead single “Voyager Of A Daydream”, a sonic cruiser that earned the quartet quick comparisons to early Queen of the Stone Age, Hüsker Dü, and Foo Fighters. What followed was “Myopic Dystopia,” a blistering guitar-rock rager that spoke – and screamed – freely about how algorithms and the need for digital content are impacting the creative outputs of artists, and changing how we view creativity.
“Musically, we feel the dynamics and high impact waves of fuzz in both fit together nicely,” says guitarist Jordan Scarborough. “Lyrically they both share similar themes and help express a lot of the feelings found throughout the rest of the record.”
Throughout Nothing Is Real, similar themes blossom under a heavy wave of psychedelic fuzz and punk urgency. The crushing “Propagate” explores artificial intelligence and its increasing proliferation of society, and the mountainous rumble of “Paresthesia” channels how our dreams often differ from reality. Themes of futurism and psychology run rampant over the record’s frantic 47 minutes, closed out on “Inside Of The Perpetual Synopsis” by Bass playing a late-’60s Fender Rhodes through a Death By Audio FUZZ War pedal.
“Music that touches on some of the more existential themes of life and reality is ok sometimes; music and art is meant to challenge you and make you re-examine things,” Bass adds. “So much of what we see these days is served up on a platter, catered to exactly what they think we want to see and hear, that doesn’t always need to be the case.”
On Nothing Is Real, The Endorphins eschew any sense of the record others want them to make, and instead lean in on the record they had to make. The follow-up to 2019 debut Dementia Paralytica and last year’s The Anomic Aphasia EP find the quartet exploring a greater sonic depth than ever before, with the help of Allinson at The Bridge, with a more vocal precision of the messages they want to convey through their music. In the Cambridge studio, endless Ninja Turtles arcade game battles – causing firsts to fly and tears to fall – brought the band together as a cohesive unit.
“We used a lot of different stuff on this album,” notes Scarborough. “Recording at The Bridge gave us the opportunity to experiment with a ton of different sounds and Alex did a really great job of getting us out of our comfort zones. We really went crazy with pedals too, recording in blocks let us pick up a lot of new toys in between sessions. Plus all the cool shit Alex had helped us narrow down what worked best.”
Adds Bass: “We approached this album a lot differently than anything we’ve done before. Songwriting wise these songs span from being written right after Dementia Paralytica to literally days before recording them. It wasn’t until everything was finished that we got a real sense of how everything was going to fit together. Just thinking about how much the world has changed from when the oldest song (“Propagate”) was written to now – I think that shows on the record.”
In the end, Nothing Is Real contrasts its moniker – the album is a living, breathing beast that’s all too real, the propulsive sound of The Endorphins raging out of the speakers and echoing the looming sense of dread that hangs over our every move. Depending on what happens over the next few years, it’ll either soundtrack the end times, or warn us of what, exactly, we need to steer clear of. It’s Choose Your Own Adventure compass set to rock and roll – and the ultimate end game is up to the listener.
“We just hope to convey a message about the times we live in,” Scarborough concludes, “but leave it vague enough for the listeners to interpret it however they please.”
Media Contact: Please direct all press inquiries to The Endorphins at theendorphinsma@gmail.com or Michael Marotta at michael@publisist.co.
***
The Endorphins are made up of these humans:
Matt Bass: Guitar, vocals, and keys
Jordan Scarborough: Guitar
Austin Wilson: Bass and keys
Jeff Walsh: Drums and percussion
Alex Allinson: Synth
***
‘Nothing Is Real’ album artwork:
Art Credit: Matt Bass Media
***
‘Nothing Is Real’ production credits:
Music by The Endorphins
Recorded, Mixed, Mastered by Alex Allinson at
The Bridge Sound and Stage in Cambridge, MA
***
The Endorphins press photo:
Photo Credit: Matt Bass Media
***
Media praise for The Endorphins:
The Endorphins can be heard on Banks Radio Australia, Bay State Rock, Blood Makes Noise, BumbleBee Radio, Christian’s Cosmic Corner (Mark Skin Radio), Code Zero Radio, Enigma Online, Fuzzed Out Boston (WZBC), Good Music Radio UK, If It’s Too Loud, Indie Radio YFM, Garagerocktopia (KUCR), Marc’s Alt-Rock Playground (Mark Skin Radio), Original Music Showcase (Mark Skin Radio), Rising With Skybar (WMFO), Rock And Roll Fables, Sunshine Music iRadio, The Rodney Bingenheimer Show on SiriusXM’s Underground Garage, Turn Up The Volume, White Light//White Heat, Your First Listen (KNNZ & Eardrum Buzz), and other fine shows and stations.
“Spilling out of an ethereal atmosphere, Matt Bass’ calming vocal delivery slowly builds towards a more commanding presence as his and Jordan Scarborough’s guitars team up for a wall of sound that, when infused with the dynamite rhythmic prowess of Jeff Walsh on drums and Austin Wilson on bass, hits a certain sweet spot between the hefty crunch of Queens Of The Stone Age’s raw self-titled banger and the more honed and crafted sound of follow-up Rated R.” – Rock And Roll Fables
“Nobody told me that Minnesota‘s buzz and fuzz legends Hüsker Dü are back with a new name and with a new line-up of Boston psychedelic noisemakers who rock themselves into space with this brand new jagged jackhammer. ‘Voyager Of A Dream’ is a multi-guitar-layered missile stoked up by four full-on cylinders. Whipped-up stuff for pandemonium-addicted ears.” – Turn Up The Volume
“Boston's The Endorphins are making alternative rock that merges the more alternative side of the genre with the more mainstream side. Their latest single, "Voyager of a Daydream," has a big fuzzed out sound that is just waiting to be played in theaters and arenas. While it keeps the indie vibe of predecessors like Husker Du, it's just too big of a sound to be kept in tiny, dingy clubs.” – If It’s Too Loud
“This band has a real throwback feel and lands like Linkin Park meets Alice In Chains or Stone Temple Pilots but with a bit more modern punk and metal sprinkled in. It feels like the kind of group you'd see at an arena with vocals that are like Dave Grohl and Chester Bennington had a love child. Great energy comes across from the performance…” – Blood Makes Noise
“After a short intro with menacing guitars and vocals this cranked-up corker erupts into a brain-breaking groove that aims to destroy the digital content machine as we know it. This Nirvana-esque grunge hammer blow confirms what my greedy ears already registered before, These guerilla rockers kick ass.” – Turn Up The Volume
“‘Myopic Dystopia’ is a fast and angry song that still keeps plenty of melody intact. It's as trippy as much as it rocks, and while it lands on the more mainstream side of the alt-rock spectrum that's not necessarily a bad thing. It has the kind of psych groove you'd hear from early Queens of the Stone Age but with the accessibility of your favorite Foo Fighters songs. The Endorphins are the kind of band that could break out at any moment, so you're going to want to jump on this bandwagon ASAP.” – If It’s Too Loud
***
Press Contact: michael@publisist.co or theendorphinsma@gmail.com
SPOTIFY . BANDCAMP . YOUTUBE . INSTAGRAM . TWITTER . FACEBOOK . MULTI-LINK