In the simmering sprawl of Austin, Texas, Rose Ceremony carves their sound like a jagged line against a fading horizon. Their newest release, somewhere the sun sets east, dropped on January 3, 2025, through Tiny Sounds Collective, is a plunge into the fragmented self—paranoia, violence, fleeting moments of calm all swirling together in six tracks that feel as delicate as they are devastating. It’s less an EP, more a howl for connection in an unraveling world.
Rose Ceremony’s origins trace back to 2021, where the members began weaving their roots into Austin’s DIY hardcore undercurrent. Carlos Cartagena, with a history in Face Turn and Grit, teamed up with the Jolly Rancher crew—Josh Gibbs, Kyle Berryman, and Drew Thornton. Together, they set stages ablaze in the cramped, sweat-drenched venues that are the lifeblood of their city’s scene.
Their first major leap, the Flint, Sparks, Fire, and Ashes split, was a fiery collaboration with Drunk Uncle, Thorn Tire, and Kerosene Heights, released through Old Press Records and Acrobat Unstable.
Even then, Rose Ceremony had a distinct energy, but it wasn’t until their pivot toward screamo and emoviolence that they found their sharpest edge. Iteration ii, their full-length debut in 2024, was recorded DIY-style and released via Chillwavve Records, earning its reach with co-releases across Serbia, Chile, and Italy (Khya Records (Serbia), Raton en Bici (Chile), Tapes for Profit (IT), 1a0 (IT), and Dischi Decenti (IT).)
Single out pic.twitter.com/9R1UwtO6ec
— Rose Ceremony (@RoseCeremonyEmo) August 30, 2024
As they moved toward their latest EP, lineup changes followed. Kyle stepped forward as vocalist, and guitarist Alex De Los Santos, of Minuano, joined the fold. This rotation didn’t disrupt; it transformed. Somewhere the sun sets east marks the first chapter of their new iteration, recorded in November 2024 with Tim Hayward of Numbkit Audio.
Rose Ceremony’s connection to Austin’s underground is an integral thread in their narrative. Their gratitude to Tiny Sounds Collective, as well as the local bands that fuel the scene, is unwavering. They name-check inspirations and collaborators like Votive, Drunk Uncle, McBryde, If I Die In Mississippi, God Shell, The High Cost of Playing God, Gulfwar Gameboy, Ritual, Houses We Die In, Shoganai, Rebecka, Oshera, Nervous, Goofus, Wake Up Spaceboy, and Rookie Park, showing a genuine sense of community that defines their work and ethos.
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For Rose Ceremony, somewhere the sun sets east is not an end but an evolution. A split is already in the works, and the early seeds of a second full-length are sprouting. Beyond the studio, they’re stepping out of Austin, touring the Midwest and beyond, eager to test their sound on unfamiliar stages.
In every track, every stage, and every scene, Rose Ceremony is not just making music—they’re capturing fleeting moments, letting them scream, and watching them burn.
Track by Track
“ashes”
Called 6/8 amongst ourselves to remember the time signature, “ashes” is generally about paranoia and the dread of social anxiety. The song is structured into separate phases and does not include a chorus.
“circling the drain”
Called “song 5” within the band, this song is about systemic violence, with lyrics depicting police brutality, and the violence that comes with imperialism.
“a choir”
This song was written to be fast and intense. Largely inspired by angular guitar riffs from bands like Blind Girls and New Forms with added emphasis on D-Beat. This is the only song that features just one vocalist.
“home”
An interlude track with Carlos on vocals. This is a guitar collab between Alex and Josh, who trade off playing airy, intertwining riffs.
“somewhere the sun east”
This is the first song Alex brought to the band after joining. It’s our shortest song on the release but we always have a blast playing through it. It’s very dense, similar to “ashes”, and involves Kyle, Josh, and Carlos all sharing vocal duties. The lyrics start with whimsical, fleeting imagery and devolve into an aggressive conclusion.
“semper distans”
This song has always been considered the “ender” for the EP and our live sets. Following the fleeting imagery of the title track, this is the only song on the release featuring Alex’s vocals front and center. The half-time breakdown towards the end features all four vocals soaring over each other.
The cover art for the EP mirrors this closeness: warm and delicate, it reflects the duality of their sound—comfort entwined with chaos.
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ROSE CEREMONY has been added to our extensive playlist on Spotify.
Be sure to give it a listen and explore dozens of amazing post hardcore and screamo bands from all over the world:
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