I can’t stop the clock’s pace
Behind the closed gates
I feel their gazes
Eating gold and scraps
Boston post-punk band Pilgrims of Yearning announce the release of a gothic wonderland in the form of their glorious EP Hadal. Nostalgic and wistful yet expansive in range, Pilgrims of Yearning brings forth an eclectic mix of post-punk, French coldwave, and Latin American influences in their unique soundtrack to “introspection, lament, and disdain.”
A sonic blend of Siouxsie and The Banshees, Cocteau Twins, Bauhaus, Ana Curra, and Baroque Bordello, the band takes New Wave sensibilities into a spookier minor chord space, with lyrics focused on isolation, societal frustration, failed relationships, the artist’s struggle and psychological spirals. Despite a couple of songs being manically fast-paced, they all sort out feelings of discontent, pleading for release. The strong female vocals bark their way through these heavy musings, bolstered by dazzling guitar work and eerie synths.
For those looking for a Siouxsie sound with a modern sensibility, the opening track “La Mar” hits the spot with its iridescent and shivering atmosphere. “Tides” moves into stream-of-consciousness territory, evoking the reverie of All About Eve, whereas “Rivers” takes us on a river of heartbreak and longing that floats upon buoyant synths, drums, and wailing guitars. The EP closes with the bilingual “Storms,” moving back and forth between English and Spanish through an existential crisis.
Listen to the Hadal EP below:
Originally from Chile, Juls and Claudio moved to the United States and formed Pilgrims of Yearning in 2018. They released their first EP, Bestarium, that same year; followed by Forsaken Lands, released in the middle of the pandemic.
They have shared stages with She Past Away, Kaelan Mikla and Vision Video, as well as performing at the Dark Spring Boston Festival in May 2022 with Golden Apes, Secret Shame, and Child of Night. They are currently preparing material for their second full length album and a European tour next year.
Pilgrims of Yearning’s Hadal EP is a marvelous melange of authentic dark and coldwave sounds. Order it here.
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