Upcoming Releases
Equal Vision Records and Mirrorless are excited to announce the Friday, October 17 release of Mirrorless, the debut, six-song EP from the recently-formed melodic hardcore supergroup. Singer/guitarist Chris Higdon is one of the most iconic singers of his generation. As the voice of Elliott and Falling Forward, he was among the most recognized and cherished singers of the early-’90s midwestern emo movement and the post-hardcore scene that followed it. Guitarist Ryan Patterson is an enduring and prolific figure in Louisville music, known for fronting his cult-favorite bands Coliseum and Fotocrime, among others, as well as their extensive work as an album cover designer and recording engineer. Bass player Brian Roundtree has been in hardcore legends By The Grace of God since the late-’90s, and drummer Ben Sears is another Louisville mainstay, having been in Black God, Xerxes and Whips/Chains, as well as being a notable cartoonist.
Stream the band’s first single, “Ultraviolent,” below. Patterson had the following to share about the song and genesis of the band:
“As the first song we wrote together, ‘Ultraviolent’ set the tone of the band and kicked things off in a very exciting way. It’s roaring out of the gate and rarely lets up. You can hear elements of all the bands we’ve been known for over the years, but in a way that’s new and vibrant. The riffs and dynamics are pummeling, while Chris roars with a greater intensity than anything he’d done in the past. Lyrically, like much of the EP, his lyrics tackle the uncertain and overwhelming nature of life at this moment. He references the ‘ultraviolent rays’ beamed into our heads by our devices.”
Brian Roundtree and Ryan Patterson wanted to start a melodic punk/hardcore band that celebrated their enduring love of DC hardcore, early West Coast pop-punk, and catchy post-hardcore. The kind of bands that were on the soundtracks of the skateboarding videos they watched growing up, bands whose albums remain as vibrant and enduring today as when they were released in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Ben Sears was their immediate choice of drummer and Chris Higdon was their first choice as singer. Outside of Elliott’s recent reunion shows, Higdon had been less active in music over the past decade, yet his voice remained strong as ever. Luckily, Higdon and Sears shared their love of this music and desire to start something new.
Mirrorless recorded their debut, six-song EP with Patterson engineering and mixing at his studio, the House of Foto. The songs are bristling with energy, erupting with the kinetic power of righteous indignation and blistering riffs. Higdon grapples with the chaos of life in this moment, with songs that are both personal and political, angry and reflective. Higdon and Patterson’s guitars intertwine with mighty chords and weaving melodic runs while Sears and Roundtree drive each track with a pummeling power, solidifying themselves as one of the strongest rhythm sections in Louisville punk history.
Mirrorless track listing:
- Ultraviolent
- Frozen Echoes
- Back Out
- Vows
- Secrets
- Golden Treason
