Track of the Day: Afterbliss - 'Remnants'

Irish indie-rockers Afterbliss have returned with their third single 'Remnants', featuring their trademark penchant for compelling melody, while forging a path into new territory.

Disco, synth-pop, and even classical influences come together on the follow-up to their 2020 debut single 'Until Sunrise' and second offering 'Kiss and Tell'.

“It’s definitely something you can dance to!” says Ally Pender, the band’s drummer. “But at the same time, it’s quite melodic.” Shane Waldron, their bassist, adds, “It’s actually the first song that we all wrote together, with the five of us all in the band, back in 2019. This song has gone through a lot of versions; I feel what we’re releasing now a really good representation of us, and what we can do. It’s us, it’s who we’ve shown ourselves to be already, but it’s also showing more of what we’re capable of, the variety of what we can do.”

“There’s no messing around with this song. It’s fast. It’s full on. I don’t think that we could have thrown anything else at this song. We’re putting ourselves out there.” Shane says. “We’re putting the aerosol can on the bonfire, to see what happens.”

After a discussion on an online discussion forum, and comprised of members from across Ireland, Scotland and Romania; Afterbliss formed in June 2019. The group is made up of Evan Cassidy on lead vocals, Alex Burcea on lead guitar, synths and backing vocals, Ally Pender on drums, James O’Gorman on rhythm guitar, and Shane Waldron on bass.

After 18 months of writing songs, November 2020 saw them release their debut single, 'Until Sunrise', which received acclaim local and national Irish radio play. The band followed this up in February 2021 with 'Kiss and Tell'. Their music has already accumulated over 27,000 streams between Spotify and YouTube.

'Remnants' was recorded in the legendary Windmill Lane Recording Studios, Dublin (Rolling Stones, U2). It was mixed by Alan Kelly (Kings of Leon, Herbie Hancock), and mastered by Fergal Davis (Muse, Sinead O’Connor). The outfit's third single marks Afterbliss as a band stepping into the indie rock scene ready to make a major impact.

Afterbliss’ music blends the genres of indie rock, indie pop, melodic rock, synth rock, and dance - taking influence from Muse, Editors, Interpol, Manic Street Preachers, and the Killers, and inspiration from artists such as Inhaler, Nothing But Thieves, All Tvvins, Ben Howard, and Kynsy.

Listen to 'Remnants' below: