We’ve covered a couple of singles from Sudbury/Toronto indie rock outfit Casper Skulls in recent months. Their forthcoming new album Kit-Cat promises to offer not only fresh songs but also something of a new chapter for the band, as members Melanie M (guitar/bass/vocals), Neil Bednis (guitar/bass/vocals) and Fraser McClean (drums/bass) pursue a more consciously collaborative practice. First single ‘Spindletop‘ “[drew] on There Will Be Blood to create a moody, ominous atmosphere,” as we put it, before ‘Roddy Piper’ offered a glimpse at a newly charged dimension of their sound. With the title figure central to the themes, the song used “a wrestling analogy to explore confrontation within a relationship,” as we described, “the combination of upbeat rhythm and fuzzy weight evoking the dramatic ups and downs of a choreographed bout.”
With the release of the album fast approaching via Next Door Records, Casper Skulls are back with ‘Dying in Eight Verses’, a brand new single that introduces another string to their bow and further whets appetites for the full release. The song is personal, reflective and bittersweet, led by its narrative in a manner stemming from the lineage of Dylan et al. and confessing its innermost fears in a way at once melancholic and affirming. “And ‘remember whens’ are our conversations / Until it no longer brings alleviation,” as one verse goes. “When we can’t express all that we invest / We took a vow but I guess we’re just memories now / Until no one’s left to remember us.” Though written before Melanie and Neil had their baby, “I think I could feel that I was ready to be a father when I wrote this song,” Bednis explains. “I think this is my most personal song and I can’t help but think of my grandparents, my parents, my wife and my daughter when I hear it. I think there’s a lot of sadness in the song but also so much hope. ”
Kit-Cat is out on the 11th April via Next Door Records and you can pre-order it from the Casper Skulls Bandcamp page.