Split Chain have shared their first new music since their debut album ‘motionblur’ dropped last year, and it is a gripping takedown of the state of the world right now.
It’s titled ‘sylvia (i won’t belong to you)’, and sits on the more punishing side of the band’s sound. There is still an ethereal atmosphere clinging to every soaring hook and delicate chord, but what stands out the most is just how angry it feels. A discenfranchised and dissoassociated piece of head-spinning catharsis, presented via a stream of throat-shredding howls and hardcore-leaning chugs. It’s a demonstration of just how brilliantly the band embody a feeling, a skill that comes to them so naturally.
Vocalist Bert Martinez-Cowles had this to say about where the track stemmed from:
“sylvia was written at a very odd time for us. After finishing one of the busiest and best years of our lives, from our first time in the US to dropping our debut album, it was the first time we had a bit of time to ourselves. We were back in the “real world”, taking everything in that we’ve missed and truly realised why we do this in the first place. The world is horrible, hate is everywhere and living just feels like a constant struggle, with the people in control who act like it’s a game. It was a ‘Truman Show’ feeling that we couldn’t shake, which is where the song was created from, with the name being based on the character Sylvia. Its a song about how it feels that we’re living in this made up, messed up world and the wanting to not be a part of it and escape to a better place, a different time.”
The band are due to be VERY busy this year, with lots of touring already in place. They will first be hitting the road with The Devil Wears Prada. Those dates look like this.
13 – OKLAHOMA CITY Diamond Ballroom
14 – FT. WORTH Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall
15 – SAN ANTONIO Vibes Event Center
17 – TUCSON Rialto Theatre
18 – LAS VEGAS House of Blues
20 – RIVERSIDE Riverside Municipal Auditorium
21 – SAN DIEGO SOMA
22 – SACRAMENTO Ace of Spades
24 – SPOKANE Knitting Factory
25 – BOISE Knitting Factory
27 – SALT LAKE CITY The Depot
28 – DENVER Summit
29 – LAWRENCE Granada
31 – MINNEAPOLIS The Fillmore
APRIL
1 – MADISON Sylvee
2 – GRAND RAPIDS The Intersection
3 – CLEVELAND House of Blues
5 – RALEIGH The Ritz
7 – JACKSONVILLE Five
8 – FT. LAUDERDALE Revolution
10 – MRYTLE BEACH House of Blues
11 – ATLANTA The Masquerade
12 – NASHVILLE Brooklyn Bowl
They will then be heading out supporting Soul Blind, with those dates looking like this.
APRIL
14 – TORONTO Hard Luck Bar
15 – HAMTRAMCK The Sanctuary
16 – CHICAGO Reggie’s Music Joint
23 – VANCOUVER The Pearl
24 – SEATTLE The Vera Project
25 – PORTLAND Polaris Hall
27 – BERKELEY Cornerstone
28 – LOS ANGELES Lodge Room
29 – MESA The Rosetta Room
MAY
01 – AUSTIN 29th Street Ballroom
03 – HOUSTON White Oak Music Hall
07 – BALTIMORE Ottobar
08 – PHILADELPHIA Ukie Club
09 – NEW YORK Bowery Ballroom
10 – ALLSTON Brighton Music Hall
And for any UK heads, they will be joining the legendary Kittie for two dates, alongside Harpy.
AUGUST
10 – MANCHESTER Academy
11 – LONDON 02 Academy Islington
