Fresh off the release of their sophomore album, “Almost Daylight, Hopeless Dawn“, Vilnius, Lithuania’s emo/post-hardcore band Roughly Human, are joining us today for a special interview and concept rundown of this interesting release. This conceptual album is a follow-up to their previous work and is presented in three acts, each exploring different stages of a narrative that intertwines personal experiences with mythological elements.
“Almost Daylight, Hopeless Dawn” tells a story about the Moon breaking up with the Sun, a metaphorical exploration of loss, searching, and eventual redemption.
“It’s a break up album, but also a redemption album—a story of loss, searching and internal discovery. ” – comments the band.
The band strikes a captivating balance between alternative emo, indie rock, and the raw intensity of At The Drive-In, with a touch of Yotsuya Kaidan’s unpredictability—effortlessly navigating between clear, melodic passages and heavier, punchier moments, without ever tipping into excessive noise, resulting in a truly unique composition and songwriting with unconventional melodies.
The narrative is divided into three acts, originally released as EPs. Act I: Twilight begins with a relationship in its final moments, symbolized by the Moon’s rebellion against the Sun, leading to eternal night.
Act I: Twilight begins with the end of a relationship. “Tired of being in the Sun’s shadow, possessed by jealousy and a lust for a new life, the Moon wages war on his lover and becomes the tyrant of his own kingdom, plunging the world into eternal night.”
The act’s lead single, “Desert Dry,” is described as a “fiery fusion of rap and post-hardcore” and captures the intensity of this breakup.
In Act II: Moonshine, the narrative shifts to the Moon’s desolation. “Night after empty night, he seeks warmth, but finds nothing. Eventually, he grows weary and begins to feel that the world is increasingly devoid of meaning.”
This act portrays the Moon’s internal struggle and his search for sustenance, ultimately leading to a moment of resignation.
Act III: Sunrise brings the story full circle as the Moon attempts to return home. “The final track ‘Sunrise‘ is an epic 7-minute plea, a tumultuous epilogue that ends in solace,” Kristupas explains.
The album ends with hope, a rare theme in today’s world of “increasing resignation in the face of climate catastrophe, political unrest, etc.”
The band is deliberate in leaving much of the album’s interpretation to the listener.
“We don’t like to give too much away, letting the listener piece together the story and find their own meaning,” Kristupas notes.
However, he does offer two potential interpretations: “Either as an epic about the Moon going on an ego trip and breaking up with the Sun and unsuccessfully trying to establish his own kingdom, or it can be interpreted as a tired man’s ambitions to find something better for himself outside of his seemingly stale relationship, which ends up in loneliness, desolation, and spiritual destitution.”
Symbolism plays a significant role throughout the album.
“The album is rife with symbolism… naturally, the key oppositions here are the Sun, the Moon, Day and Night, Light and Dark, and so forth.” The artwork, created by Reda Urbonaitė using traditional linocut techniques, reflects these themes, with colors corresponding to different times of day.
View this post on Instagram
Roughly Human’s approach to this album reflects a broader commentary on the current music scene.
“The notion of a concept album is not very common these days, with singles and playlists being the preferred way of consuming music for most listeners, especially in the local scene.” The Lithuanian alternative scene, which is still young, has seen a shift toward genre-bending and experimentation, something Roughly Human embodies.
The band is also preparing for a series of visual collages to accompany each track, as well as a physical cassette tape release.
Upcoming performances include a tour around Lithuania and an opening gig for the Midwest band BURNKIT in Vilnius on October 26th. Looking ahead, the band hopes to expand their reach abroad in the coming year.
Roughly Human’s Almost Daylight, Hopeless Dawn is a complex, multi-layered work that challenges listeners to engage deeply with its themes of loss, discovery, and hope.
As Kristupas sums up, “It’s about breaking up with someone, coping with that loss, and finding oneself in the place you least expect.”
