From the rise of authoritarianism to income inequality, sometimes it seems like we’re living in a desolate landscape. Bitter Branches’ sophomore full-length, Let’s Give The Land Back To The Animals, is the soundtrack to that apocalypse as well as an act of defiance in the face of it. Correspondingly, when vocalist Tim Singer states “the truth is a promise when we’re young / the truth is ugly when we’re done” on the song Posture Contest, he isn’t admitting defeat. He’s channeling the darkness of the world into a cathartic form of self-expression in an attempt to help make sense of our collective reality.

To capture their explosive sound, the band teamed up with J. Robbins, who perfectly understood what the band were trying to accomplish with this new offering. “On some of these songs, I let myself explore some dark thoughts in my head,” Singer explains, citing the vigilante, Taxi Driver-esque narrative of Basic Karate as an example. “It’s not your typical belligerent music because there’s a lot of open space; it feels like it’s a bit more sinister.” It’s true. The album doesn’t feature any double bass or detuned breakdowns, yet it’s somehow heavier because of the sparse simplicity of the arrangements and the way the band are able to lock in on a dissonant groove in a way that’s as rapturous as it is relentlessness.

“On our first record I feel like we were all trying to get our feet underneath it, but on this one we really wanted to lean into the groove,” drummer Jeff Tirabassi explains. “On a fanboy level especially for us old heads, it scratches that Jesus Lizard itch; a little bit of exploring a lane over there instead of the typical lanes,” Singer adds. “There’s a lot in that post-hardcore lane that we all love that I don’t think is explored enough… or at least not by the right people.” Having both Singer and bassist Dan Yemin on vocals also helped give the band a broader sonic palette to work with that helps it from ever feeling rehashed or redundant.