I was in love the second I heard “Decadence” by The Whether Channel. I just found it to be such a perfect track with a flawless sound and an undeniable sense of energy. I needed more so let’s take some time with their brand new EP, ‘Skull and Ted’s Bogus Journey’ and see if it quenches my thirst for this band or leaves me just wanting so much more (I feel like I already know how this is going to end).

“Can’t Help but Feel Like a Stranger” kicks this five-song EP off in a gorgeous way. This track just floated into my house and brought a sense of comfort over my entire living space instantly. Instantly, Saves the Day came to mind. There’s something about the presentation of the vocals that just screams Saves the Day but this is so much more than just a rehash of another band. There’s energy, layers, grit, and beauty all encompassed in this opening track. It really lays out a lot of different sounds within the three-minute and forty-seven seconds that make you intrigued by the idea of what may be to come.

That fateful song that made me fall in love with this band instantly, “Decadence”, is the second track on this EP and it was like falling in love all over again. Although there’s absolutely still that nostalgia factor that “Can’t Help but Feel Like a Stranger” had, there’s something a little bit more abrasive about the presentation of this track. It’s not aggressive but there’s just a little bit more pain that comes through with every word. This track is dripping in raw emotion in the most honest and perfect way. Although I know I still have three more songs to go, I’m going to go ahead and name this track my favorite on the release just due to that honest emotion that speaks to my soul on such a deep level.

Unfortunately, “Decadence” also happens to be one of the quicker tracks on the album at just over two minutes long but, thankfully, “There Is No Body Underneath That Garden Office” doesn’t let the energy drop. It’s as if this third track takes that more abrasive feeling of “Decadence” and really amps it up. There’s a desperate scream instead of flowing vocals throughout this track that I absolutely loved and I instantly started wondering if this was also my favorite track. I love that the raw emotion that The Whether Channel does so well comes through in different waves. There are waves of defeat, waves of frustration, and a few waves of triumph sprinkled throughout this amazing track.

“Capacitance” slows things down and brings back the tenderness felt in the first track but really expands on it. Although this is the slowest moving track so far, there’s an energy about it that makes it fly by. The way this tenderness follows up the more abrasive nature of the previous track is such a stellar example of the genius behind this band. They have so many sides stylistically and I called that within the first few seconds of the opening track. Being able to hear them expand on all of those sides within such a short EP is absolutely amazing to me and had me falling deeper and deeper in love with this band as every word flew by.

“For Lake Of” is the closing track on this all-too-quick EP. It starts off with fuzzy conversations going on faintly above a simplistic yet powerful bassline. I loved how the guitars kind of snuck in and slowly started taking over. Even as the more Saves the Day styled vocals came in, there was something oddly satisfying about the atmospheric nature of the opening of this final track. I think I knew deep down that this track wouldn’t stay so subdued but I liked how it felt like it was closing out the album in a perfect and calming way. This entire track is a crescendo and it ramps up to a triumphant ending that, although ends this journey so perfectly, absolutely left me wanting more (as I had suspected).

My Favorite Track(s): “Decadence”; “There Is No Body Underneath The Garden Officer”– but just listen to the whole thing

For Fans Of: Saves the Day; Energy; Emotion

Mosh-ability: 7 out of 10

What My Cats Thought Of It: Artie laid on the floor behind me; Autumn slept upstairs

How Badly I Want To See This Performed Live: 9 out of 10

My Overall Rating: 10 out of 10

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