Fresh from their worldwide signing to UNFD in late 2023, Wollongong five-piece Alienist return today with a monstrous new single Distorted Reflections alongside announcing their debut EP, Love/Hate, officially due out on Friday 1 March via UNFD.
The Everblack Podcast spoke to Damon Renes from Alienist about their new EP Love/Hate, his songwriting process and vocal abilities, upcoming shows and more
An explosive continuation of the group’s previous single Prisoner Of You, Distorted Reflections rumbles with biting vocals, sweltering textures and savage riffs, alongside plenty of distortion shared with its namesake. A blistering outing that balances rage and catharsis in equal measure, Distorted Reflections ultimately captures the storm raging within when all hope seems lost.
“Distorted Reflections explores an individual’s personal battles with their own mind,” shares the band of their latest track, “an analysis of what it feels like when you feel like your world is crumbling around you and you’re living in a world that would be better off without your existence.”
Love and hate; a dichotomy as old as time, and it’s this agitated balance of two cohesive yet opposing forces that ultimately strikes at the sharpened core of the upcoming debut EP from Alienist.
Thematically traversing themes of religion, self doubt, relationship struggles and mental health, Love/Hate balances its searing instrumentals and dexterous layers alongside arresting and immense emotive content. Whether battling with religious ideals alongside commanding execution (Godless), facing the crumbling world around with a flurry of distortion (Distorted Reflections), detailing a breakdown of love set to turgid guitars and torrential beats (Absent), seeking hope and purpose in creativity (Hypnotise), or serving up a biting commentary on a toxic relationship (Prisoner Of You), Love/Hate is simultaneously confronting and cathartic, with Alienist firmly at the helm of a journey that feels instantly personal yet universal.
“We explore a lot of different themes on this EP,” reveals guitarist, vocalist and lead songwriter Damon Renes, “but obviously the entire overall theme is love/hate and the fact that there’s such a big dichotomy between the two words at the same time.”
“People do a lot of things that are hateful, and yet use the word that they’re doing it for as “love” and vice versa,” Renes adds. “Love can make you do a lot of hateful things as well. The EP explores relationships with religion, but it also explores toxic relationships and abusive relationships and the falling apart of relationships that you think were going to be your “forever”, and what it feels like when you realise that that’s not going to be the case.”
“It explores all those sorts of themes and I hope some people listen to the lyrics of some of the songs and really think about their own situation. Or if they’re stuck in a situation that they’re not happy in, or one where they don’t feel safe – I hope that they feel like they’re not alone in that, and that they can get help or get the support that they need.”
Named for an anachronistic term for psychiatry, Alienist forged from the remnants of a former covers band, with the current lineup, consisting of Lachlan Forsberg (Vocals), Damon Renes (Guitar), Anthony Vella (Guitar), Chris Olliffe (Bass) and Jake Ceely (Drums), convening over a shared passion for crafting meaningful and memorable music alongside influences ranging from I Prevail and Wage War, to Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, Polaris and Northlane.
From their debut single, 2019’s Social Faker, through to their most recent track Prisoner Of You, Alienist relentlessly enamour with their modern flair and infectious design. And it’s this heavy yet nuanced nature of glistening light and menacing shade that has seen the Wollongong five-piece previously secure airplay on triple j, perform alongside the likes of Thy Art Is Murder, Make Them Suffer, Ocean Grove, Yours Truly and Fit For An Autopsy at UNIFY Off The Record in 2023, open for juggernauts Northlane and Gravemind, and tick off an almost sold out national headline tour – and all without breaking a sweat in an exceedingly short space of time.
DISTORTED REFLECTIONS – OUT NOW
https://alienist.lnk.to/
LOVE/HATE – DUE OUT FRIDAY 1 MARCH
https://alienist.lnk.to/
