The new EP from Vancouver’s CLARENCE ST. is a raw exploration of society’s pitfalls, greed, personal betrayal, and mental health struggles. This release is grounded in the harsh realities we face today, visually represented by the band’s intentionally dark and thematic music videos for “UNDER” and “NO LINE”.
Rob, who directed the videos, perfectly aligned the visuals with the lyrical content, portraying a world spiraling into chaos.
“UNDER” hones in on corporate greed, with banks, loans, and financial pitfalls that pull individuals and society under, visually reflecting the track’s core themes of societal collapse.
The “NO LINE” video features imagery of nuclear winters, bomb tests, and cold war threats, tying directly into the lyrical narrative of boundaries being crossed to the detriment of personal relationships.
Sonically, CLARENCE ST. is heavily inspired by acts such as EVERY TIME I DIE, KNOCKED LOOSE, TURNSTILE, and NINE INCH NAILS. Their signature dissonant chords and fast, hooky riffs echo these influences, creating a gritty backdrop for the lyrical weight carried throughout the EP.
Formed in 2021 in London, Ontario, growing up in the deep and diverse scene of Midwestern Ontario, the members of CLARENCE ST. were shaped by bands like DEAD AND DIVINE, ALEXISONFIRE, and COUNTERPARTS.
The new EP addresses several recurring themes, not just in music, but in society as a whole: greed, betrayal, corporate oppression, and personal suffering.
It pulls no punches in expressing frustration with modern life, particularly the way individuals are treated within personal relationships and larger societal structures.
Below is a full track-by-track commentary provided by the band:
UNDER
The song is my commentary really on the state of greed and corporate well-being above the well-being of people in the world. It deals with the frustrations of modern financial-first society where the rich are getting richer and the middle class is being eroded. Our generation can’t afford homes, are syphoned into debt at every turn, and it seems to benefit no one but a small handful of corporate pigs, which is why I wrote the line “Tell me why my generation’s in degradation.” That pretty much sums up the theme of the song and to a slight degree the EP as a whole. A feeling of helplessness against the corporate tide of greed.
NO LINE
A song that ties into the theme of greed again at first glance, but it was inspired by real events that happened to both of us in the band. The song is about having a relationship with someone and believing it to be trustworthy and pure, only to have that person turn into a source of negativity who will do anything to tear you down. It’s about the feeling of losing someone to any number of things, be it addiction, jealousy, or a toxic relationship, and feeling like they no longer have any lines that they won’t cross to hurt you or do you harm. “A back to be stabbed, a bond to sever, and no line you won’t cross.” That captures the song in essence.
HIGH & MIGHTY
This track is about someone I’ve encountered in my professional life who is the worst kind of person to deal with. A person who constantly sits on a high horse of complete bullshit, that talks down to everyone else but in reality they don’t have a damn clue. A very toxic person who does all they can to ruin everything for others around them, who in reality is a very small person who has nothing of substance to stand on. We’ve all encountered these people and this song is about one that I’ve been exposed to who is a complete poison to be around and thinks they’re the shit while doing it. And the corporate world we live in sometimes does nothing to stop or remedy these situations and in the worst cases allows these poison people to thrive. Really boils down to being a middle finger I’m sending by way of a breakdown.
DRAIN
Another blast of frustration I have with the way our world is going. “Held in submission, no war, just attrition” is a good line to get the gist here. It was inspired by the serious increase in mental health issues we’re seeing, especially in western culture, and how the corporate-first mentality of our financial overlords doesn’t allow that to mess with the bottom line. So many people are experiencing mental health crises and suicide rates are through the roof, especially for men 18-55, and I just feel like sometimes the world and how we treat each other is very backwards and empathy is a lost virtue at times.
HURT
A cover that I was fairly intimidated by for obvious reasons. We originally tossed around the idea of doing a Sex Pistols cover, which we still wanna do at some point (Bodies), but Rob called me one day with the idea after hearing Hurt on the radio and said “Man, no one has done like a gross heavy cover of this, and we should try it.” The only reason I was intimidated by it was first, it’s a very personal song to Trent and for obvious reasons, but also, Johnny fuckin Cash covered it to wide acclaim in one of the greatest music videos of all time. But after hearing the sound bed that Rob had strung together as an idea, I was sold, and I hope people feel like we paid Trent and Mr. Cash by extension the proper honour the tune deserves. I think many, if not all of us, can relate to the songs themes of feeling like you’re a failure and you can’t get it right no matter what, and not wanting to be a burden on others with your perceived shortcomings. Powerful song, I hope we did it justice.
