Louisville, KY hardcore conquerers, INCLINATION, have returned today with two new singles. Out now via Pure Noise Records, “Thoughts and Prayers” and “A Decision” will both be on the limited A Glimpse Through The Lens flexi available at LDB Fest.
Recorded by Andy Nelson at Bricktop Recording (Foundation, Weekend Nachos, Jesus Piece), “Thoughts and Prayers” and “A Decision” waste no time in proving why Inclination of have been turning so many heads in their relatively short existence.
The tracks feature a seemingly endless well of vicious riffs courtesy of guitarists Caleb Murphy and Isaac Hale (who also plays with heavyweights Knocked Loose), while bassist Peter Katter and drummer Christopher Mills provide an earth-shaking foundation. The towering sound is the perfect delivery system for vocalist Tyler Short’s roaring voice and pointed lyricism.
The outspokenly straight edge band have quickly proven themselves to not only be one of the most sonically pummeling bands in modern hardcore, but also one of the most thought-provoking. Inclination’s latest singles exhibit Short’s ability to explore his ethos from a deeply personal perspective as well as from a more external view.
“Thoughts and Prayers” targets the systemic rot at the heart of the drug epidemic, directing Short’s ire at the tangle of corruption amongst pharmaceutical companies, politicians, the media, and for-profit insurance. While “A Decision” looks inward, contemplating a life-changing personal choice with the help of guest vocalists Ryan Savitski of One Step Closer and Russell Bussey of Magnitude.
Short discussed both of the new songs in-depth saying: “I wrote ‘Thoughts and Prayers‘ because I was sick of watching the people who have been elected to power in this country more or less stand idly by as the community I live in, as well as countless others, are ripped apart by a drug epidemic. The fact that the majority of these individuals are in the pocket of the pharmaceutical companies that helped push these drugs on people who were not clearly informed of the risk all but guarantees that no substantive change would or could be made. Instead, they take to the complicit media and offer thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers can’t fix the backbreaking labor or economic anxiety that hangs around the working classes neck 52 weeks a year but as long as healthcare is allowed to run as a for-profit enterprise those existential problems have no incentivized solution. So we will be patronized by our leaders and divided amongst each other while they attempt to convince us that it’s our fault for ending up here and it won’t matter how many of us die in the pursuit of the almighty dollar.”
“‘A Decision‘ is a look at the feeling of finding straight edge at the age I did, when I still really didn’t know who I was, and deciding to identify with the movement. That’s what straight edge is to me, it’s a movement towards something. I think that ‘something’ varies depending on who you are talking to and I wanted to venture out and ask that question of a couple of our contemporaries. I reached out to Russ from Magnitude and Ryan from One Step Closer and asked them if they’d be a part of the song and help me write it by giving their unique perspective and voice to what it means to make that decision. Straight edge has shaped my life and I think there is value to everyone’s individual journeys toward this collective idea.”
Stay tuned for more new music coming from Inclination in 2022.
