In the wild labyrinth of underground music today, where the echo of authenticity sometimes gets lost in the digital ether, there’s a pulse that refuses to fade. It’s the first impression and the heartbeat of .22LR, a harsh screamo / emoviolence band that emerged from a serendipitous encounter between artists from divergent paths, who found common ground not just in their music but in their ethos.
April 2nd, 2024, marks a pivotal moment for this band, featuring members of Low Before The Breeze and Less Dead, as Tomb Tree and Mevzu Records prepare to unveil .22LR’s self-titled debut on both digital and tape formats.
As digital curators of the cutting edge in the underground music scene, we take pride in premiering “Sinking,” the second track from this much-anticipated album.
Like a bullet discharged from the eponymous rifle, “Sinking” detonates, launching us into a their uncompromising soundscape. An essence of good old screamo.
The genesis of .22LR reads like a plotline for the modern digital age, yet it’s imbued with a nostalgia for the times when music was a tangible exchange between souls rather than data packets.
Jake Isaac, in a candid revelation, shares the whirlwind formation of the band that spanned continents but was rooted in a shared passion.
It was the summer of 2023, a period that would mark the inception of a unique collaboration. Onur Guzel, a name synonymous with Turkey’s music scene, found himself in Atlanta, a visit that would set the stage for .22LR’s birth.
The initial connection was made through Jake’s then-band, Less Dead, but it was the mutual respect for their craft that cemented this alliance.
Onur, with his extensive background with bands like Noisy Sins of the Insect, Stevan Filopovic, Tara Tarama, and Jornada Del Muerto (previously featured on IDIOTEQ), brought not just experience but a unique local legacy to the table.
Teaming up with Jake and Matt Daniell (of Less Dead, Hubble, and Wieuca fame) on drums, they discovered an organic chemistry that effortlessly translated into music.
The final piece of this puzzle was Andrew Spann, bringing his dual skillset on guitar and vocals from Low Before the Breeze to the mix. From their first jam session to recording, the journey was a whirlwind three weeks of creativity unleashed.
Yet, as Jake puts it, “.22LR is more than just a project; it’s a testament to the global village that music has become.” The band, despite the geographical challenges, harbors ambitions of live performances that might see them bridging continents, from the stages of Turkey and Eastern Europe to the vibrant scenes of the United States.
Reflecting on the journey, Jake’s connection to Onur’s previous band, Noisy Sins of the Insect, adds a layer of personal victory to this endeavor.
“It feels like a win for subculture,” he notes, emphasizing the deep-rooted connections that music can forge across time and space.
The essence of .22LR’s debut is a homage to the tangible and the tactile in music creation, a deliberate step away from the digital isolation that has pervaded the industry.
As .22LR prepares to release their debut into the world, Jake’s parting thoughts resonate with a hope for a renaissance in music — a return to authenticity, to sounds that breathe and bleed and exist in the moment.
“I hope this album is part of a broader swing of the pendulum back towards a more authentic and kinetic sound,” Jake muses.
Indeed, .22LR’s emergence is a narrative of connections made, of of the undying spirit of collaboration.
For fans of: Carrion Spring, Elle, and Wakhan Corridor. 70 tapes.
