Both powerfully melodic and heavy, Wield shows the Philadelphia-based quintet mastering their craft, of creating compelling melodies that sound larger than life.
“The intention for ‘Tides’ was to evoke aural imagery akin to an unstoppable force colliding with an immovable object,” comments the band. “Our studio intern’s observation perfectly captured this sentiment: ‘It sounds like a soundtrack for Godzilla fighting King Kong.’ There’s an undercurrent of frustration woven into the song. It serves as a metaphor for the very universal human experience for us all — the constant challenges, both monumental and mundane, that we all face in a struggle to exist.”
2022 saw Hiroe burst onto the scene with an explosive debut EP full of soaring anthems and sublime soundscapes. Combining the sonic expansiveness of Deftones with the dynamic heaviness of bands like Isis and Caspian, Hiroe immediately already figured out how to make the most majestic sounding post-rock early in their career.
“Our first release, Wrought, was a statement of creation,” explains principal songwriter and guitarist Eric Kusanagi.
For the recording of Wield, Jill Paslier moved from bass to guitars, with Brian Kong (guitars), Jon Seiler (bass) and Dan Sagherian (drums) joining to complete the lineup. Produced once more by Mario Quintero (Spotlights), Wield capitalizes on everything the band learned in the creation of its predecessor, adding to it a new focus on textural intricacies and compositional detail.
“We wanted to show a larger range of musical themes on this record,” continues Kusanagi. “You’ll hear us dive into some synth work, some piano work, some really interesting effects that Mario helped us dial up.”
As a result, Wield packs in a huge range of details, which reveal themselves over repeated listens.
Nevertheless, Wield is still an affair of instant gratification for fans of guitar driven post-rock. From the soaring leads of “Tides” to the epic finale of “I’ve Been Waiting For You All My Life,” Hiroe show they’ve upped their game in every department, but especially that which tugs at your heartstrings.
Wield presents the brave new future we all need in these confusing times. A new American frontier on which we can build our wildest dreams and our most daring ambitions.
HIROE ON TOUR:
6/6 — Baltimore, MD — Monument City Brewing
6/7 — Washington, DC —The Pocket
6/13 — Brooklyn, NY — Gold Sounds
6/14 — Boston, MA — Deep Cuts
6/20 — Harrisburg, PA — JB Lovedraft’s
6/21 — Lancaster, PA — The Upside
6/27 — Philadelphia, PA — Kung Fu Necktie
6/28 — Pittsburgh, PA — Ormsby’s
7/23 — Indianapolis, IN — Black Circle (Post-Fest Pre-Show)
