Photo by Gerri Fernandez
Soft Kill returns with Roseland, a three-track EP that showcases their knack for being prolific and ever-evolving, seamlessly blending light and dark to keep their sound feeling perpetually fresh. Never content to repeat themselves, the band continues to push their creative boundaries, crafting songs that balance between bright, jangly melodies and shadowy, introspective undertones. On Roseland, they take this interplay further, creating a rich, atmospheric journey that swings from moments of melancholic beauty to deeper, more unsettling passages while maintaining their distinct post-punk edge.
The EP opens with “Blood On My Shoes,” a track that plunges the listener into a brooding, slow-burn intensity with its echoing drums and jagged guitar riffs. It moves like a dense fog creeping over deserted streets, its layers building with a deliberate, almost cinematic tension. There’s an ominous edge here as the song journeys into the heart of darkness, where each note feels like a step further away from the light.
The title track, “Roseland,” follows and shifts gears with a burst of jangly energy, reminiscent of The Ocean Blue colliding with The Smiths on a road trip mixtape. It’s a bouncy, bittersweet anthem where melancholy dances with a hint of optimism, all driven by infectious guitars and Tobias Grave’s wistful, sighing vocals. It’s catchy yet complex, a tune that wraps its sadness in a smile, leaving a mark that’s hard to shake off—a sort of dance with despair that feels oddly exhilarating. The song’s visualizer video adds a contrasted layer of intensity, splicing together a grim compilation of gore-filled scenes from 80s horror classics like Friday the 13th, Day of the Dead, The Thing, and Robocop.
Watch below:
Softkill’s surprise EP closes with a sharp take on DC hardcore outfit Dag Nasty’s 1986 scorcher “Circles.” Soft Kill keeps the punk pulse intact while injecting the track with unexpected harmonies that lend it a surprising emotional depth. It’s a cover that stays true to its roots but dares to wander off the beaten path, adding a new dimension to a familiar riff and closing the EP with a sense of raw renewal.
Roseland is a tempest of troubled tracks and strange twists: a refreshing deviation from the usual, a vibrant vision that flips the script. The EP is out now via Born Losers Records. Listen at the link below, and purchase vinyl copies here.
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