Today, Ben Quad released their highly anticipated new EP, Ephemera, via Pure Noise Records. The vinyl of the EP is available to order now on their website or stream.
This EP opens with heavy riffs and powerful lyrics in the hard-hitting track “I Did Not Create The Rules.” The first line of the song (and the record), “It’ll be like this forever…” sets the stage for the main conflict of the entire album. Ben Quad shared their insight on this opening track below:
“We are forced to survive in the constant hell cycle that is late-stage capitalism. The record as a whole is an exploration of transience. The lines “Well let me just ask this. Are you only angry now? We’re living anxiously so why don’t we just burn this?” brings up the ideas of change and rejection of the status-quo. The title of the song, like our first screamo endeavor, “You’re Part of It,” is a direct reference to the politically-focused song “American Hearts” by Piebald.”
Leading up to the release of the EP, the band put out several other singles off the record, including the Deafheaven-inspired “Your Face As An Effigy,” the cathartic track “You’ll Get Nothing And Like It,” and the title track “Ephemera.” Their latest releases have received recognition from the likes of UPROXX, Brooklyn Vegan, and New Noise Magazine, among others.
Ephemera Track List:
1. I Did Not Create the Rules
2. You’ll Get Nothing and Like It
3. Your Face as an Effigy
4. Exit Wounds
5. Ephemera
Taking sonic cues from bands such as William Bonney, Pg. 99, and Underoath, Ephemera is Ben Quad’s momentary shift to a much more aggressive style than 2022’s I’m Scared That’s All There Is. Lyrically, the EP focuses on subjects such as societal decay, anger with one’s environment, and directing that anger into action. Many of the songs are astute indictments of modern society and political establishments.
Produced by longtime collaborator CJ Cochran from Outline In Color, the recording process was broken up by the band going on tour. That break allowed for extra contemplation and consideration about what they were making. The result is a set of songs that combines the personal and the political to devastating effect. While there are still hints of their old songs contained within Ephemera, the band present a new iteration of their sound with added chemistry and confidence.
Ben Quad is currently on tour supporting Prince Daddy & the Hyena for three more shows before kicking off the Pure Noise Tour with Microwave, Prince Daddy & the Hyena, and Just Friends on October 29 at Iron City in Birmingham, Alabama. The band also just announced a few headlining shows in select cities this December with support from TRSH and Summerbruise.
For a complete list of show dates and to purchase tickets, head to BenQuad.com.
Upcoming Tour Dates
w/ Prince Daddy & The Hyena, Heart To Gold, and Cliffdiver
October 25 – Las Vegas, NV – Area 15
October 26 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine
October 28 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
PURE NOISE RECORDS TOUR w/ Microwave, Prince Daddy & The Hyena, and Just Friends
October 29 – Birmingham, AL – Iron City
October 30 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues
November 1 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
November 2 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips
November 3 – Tulsa, OK – The Vanguard
November 4 – Lawrence, KS – Granada
November 6 – St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall
November 7 – Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
November 8 – Milwaukee, WI – Turner Hall
November 9 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
November 10 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation
November 12 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Centre
November 13 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s
November 15 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall
November 16 – Asbury Park, NJ – Asbury Lanes
November 17 – Wantagh, NY – Mulcahy’s
November 18 – Baltimore, MD – The Recher
November 20 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club (Upstairs)
November 21 – Raleigh, NC – Lincoln Theatre
November 22 – Charleston, SC – Music Farm
November 23 – Orlando, FL – The Beacham
Headlining Tour Dates
December 4 – Springfield, MO – The Regency Live *
December 7 – Detroit, MI – Magic Stick #
December 8 – Pittsburgh, PA – Bottlerocket #
December 11 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place #
December 14 – Worcester, MA – Palladium +
December 16 – Lakewood, OH – Mahall’s #
*w/ TRSH
#w/ Summerbruise
+ Ben Quad Only
About Ben Quad
Since forming in 2018, the Oklahoma four-piece band—Sam Wegrzynski (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Henry Shields (backing vocals/bass), Edgar Viveros (lead guitar), and Isaac Young (drums)—have released three split EPs and their 2022 debut album, I’m Scared That’s All There Is. Those records, alongside tours with Hot Mulligan, Arm’s Length, and Forests, have helped establish Ben Quad as one of the emo/indie/punk bands to know – a hybrid of all those scenes and sounds that works incredibly well, both live and on record.
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