Original post-hardcore twosome (and recent Headline Act) Chapter Nineteen are poised to drop their stunning debut EP, A Story Well Told, on Friday 23rd April. With that in mind, we exclusively talk to Dave Musson (vocals, guitars and bass) about the tracks that make up the EP:
1 – WHY EVEN TRY
This is the start of the story that we spend the rest of the EP telling you. Actually, if it were a book, it would most likely be its prologue; we meet the mysterious narrator who will guide us through the tale of the doomed band, the band that isn’t welcome.
Musically, it’s based around chunky Code Orange-influenced riff and then builds from there.
2 – WHEN NO-ONE BELIEVES IN YOU
Here, our band is announcing itself onto the scene and showing everyone how they’ve been able to turn what were a bunch of noises into a bunch of songs. We’re also given clues that, right away, outside forces are trying to pull the band in different directions, when all they want to do is write songs their loved ones can sing along to.
This one is book-ended by some weird, stabby riffs, before the guitars then indulge in a bunch of early Norma Jean and mid-career The Chariot worship.
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3 – HOW IS THERE HOPE (video on YouTube)
By now, the band in our story has realised that people are writing them off because they’re a bit different, and it turns out people don’t want different. They’re happy to see our band as a quirky bit of fun but not take them seriously, despite the band’s plea to ignore everything you heard about them and instead pay attention and listen.
This song grew out a rumbling Palm Reader-influenced riff in 3/4, so we were absolutely thrilled to have Josh Redrup from that very band contribute a bass solo for us in the hardcore midsection.
4 – WHEN NOBODY CARES (video on YouTube)
Our narrator reappears at the end of the previous song to tee up this one; at this point in the story, our band decides to try and write a hit single, something that can’t be argued with. And, as the narrator says, they do it – it’s their song that everyone knows. But, even then, they’re not taken seriously – people watching them will shake their heads while dancing along at the same time.
Musically, this one has a Queens of the Stone Age, meets Jamie Lenman, meets Nirvana feel to it – it’s the one that will have you tapping your feet and humming along.
5 – BUT WHAT IF THIS IS
This is the turning point in the story for our band, it’s where they realise things aren’t going to go their way no matter what they do. They learn the hard way that, even when they do everything that is asked of them, the power players in the scene – promoters, reviewers, bigger bands – still don’t bite. Our band realises that, ultimately, they’re on their own – none of the people who said they loved them actually did. As the narrator says at the end, by this point they just think ‘sod it’ and resolve to do their own thing and go out on their own terms.
This one is a short, sharp burst of thrashy energy that just about keeps from falling apart, before leaving with a weird, syncopated swagger.
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6 – THE BEST CHANCE WE’LL GET
This is the sound of our band heading west and leaving everyone in their dust – the lyrics reflect how everything they do is immediately pulled in the other direction, so there’s just no chance to move forwards.
This song is built on a couple of Every Time I Die-style riffs, before dropping into a midsection that features an awkward guitar solo sat over a relentless snare, and then a big nod to Sabbath to bring it home.
7 – THIS WASN’T PART OF THE PLAN
This is the epilogue of the story. The band is done, everything they’d hoped for vanished, and they’re reflecting on it all – totally heartbroken. But, they work through their grief and realise it wasn’t their fault, they never had a chance anyway. Once the song is done, we wrap up with the narrator, who is ready for us to leave him alone by now – although he’s caught somewhat off-guard when he learns at the end that our band might not be finished after all. We leave it on that cliffhanger.
This is the longest and most complex song on the EP – it’s got strings, horns and synths on it, and we namecheck some of our favourite bands in the middle too. Also, if you pay close attention to the lyrics, you’ll understand why our song titles are so odd.
Chapter Nineteen: facebook | twitter | instagram | spotify | youtube
