Final Gasp’s forthcoming album New Day Symptoms is steeped in nocturnal, death rock adventurism, driven with a post-punk anxiety that feels increasingly like the twitching heart of our modern age, and driven by hardcore punk intensity. Vocalist Jake Murphy poignantly gives voice to fears and frustrations lurking just under the surface of waking consciousness and turns them into a rallying cry.
“A lot of ‘New Day Symptoms’ was written in an outside perspective — what could’ve happened if things were different, but ultimately it didn’t end that way. You can’t change what’s already been done, so you just have to move on. It just means it’s a part of who you are now.” New single “Burials of Birth” finds Murphy recounting the tragic story of a homeless man living off grid that he encountered throughout his youth. His tent encampment was burned down by the police and he froze to death in the process of trying to rebuild it. It’s that ability to perceive a sense of loss from an outside perspective that makes these songs resonate more widely, giving greater perspective to deal with our own.
Where Final Gasp’s acclaimed 2023 debut, Mourning Moon, was a concentrated shot of acrid, underground death rock, its propulsion tanks largely filled with references to Samhain and Killing Joke, New Day Symptoms keeps all the core urgency while vastly broadening its scope. With new space to explore, this is an album that feels communal, a mapping of personal trials and dark recesses onto a map dotted with rafters-rousing marker points.
Final Gasp’s ability to meld opposing forces into something vibrant and new is encoded into their DNA. The process of forging a sound that combined but went beyond their musical background and musical obsessions was one that took a lot of soul-searching, taking them on a path whose destination remains open-ended.
“I think we’re still figuring it out, to be honest,” says Jake. “It’s like most things when you start out you have a vision and stick to it, we just quickly realised we could do so much more with it. We blossomed into this group of people that all have similar influences, but see them from different perspectives. We could hear the band beginning a new chapter.”
One of the main reasons for the broadening of the band’s sound on the new album is that New Day Symptoms was written much more as a democratic process than Mourning Moon.
“It was a total hands-on, involved process between all of us,” Murphy enthuses. “Because everything was on the table and everyone’s ideas were blending together really well. Naturally we still rely on what we’re used to, but this time we let ourselves explore different tones. And we were all so open and receptive to each others’ ideas that writing and recording this record was more of a collaboration. Having Arthur (Rizk, producer) produce this record opened even more ideas to us.”
It’s that open-mindedness while still being fully in touch with your underground roots that gives New Day Symptoms such a galvanizing force. It’s one of those rare killer rock’n’roll albums whose conviction and honesty make it unique, primed to stand the test of time, and as acclaimed tours with bands as diverse as Abbath, Gatecreeper, Fiddlehead, Poison Ruin, Devil Master and Imperial Triumphant make clear, unlimited in their appeal.
New Day Symptoms was produced by Arthur Rizk and sees its release February 27 via Relapse Records. Final Gasp’s headlining North American tour kicks off next month and crosses both coasts, the midwest and more. Last week they announced a hometown show with Acid Bath, Pig Destroyer and Primitive Man. See below for a full list of dates. Tickets are on sale here.
Pre-Order / Pre-Save New Day Symptoms Here
Final Gasp is:
Jake Murphy – Vocals
Alex Consentino – Guitar/Synth
Sean Rose – Bass
Peter Micanovic – Guitar
Kevin Ordway – Drums
Final Gasp Live Dates:
Feb 26: Cambridge, MA – Sonia ~
Feb 27: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church ~
Mar 01: Cincinnati, OH – Dsgn Clltcv
Mar 02: Kansas City, MO – Howdy
Mar 04: Denver, CO – Bar 404
Mar 05: Salt Lake City, UT – Aces High Saloon
Mar 07: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark
Mar 08: Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
Mar 09: Seattle, WA – The Funhouse
Mar 11: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial
Mar 12: Oakland, CA – Stork Club
Mar 13: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge
Mar 14: Joshua Tree, CA – Joshua Tree
Mar 15: San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick
Mar 16: Mesa, AZ – The Nile Underground
Mar 19: Tulsa, OK – Whittier Bar
Mar 20: Austin, TX – The Lost Well
Mar 21: Dallas, TX – Dusty’s
Mar 22: Little Rock, AR – Vinos
May 29-31: Toronto, ON – Prepare the Ground
May 30: Boston, MA – Roadrunner #
~ w/ Sumerlands & Eternal Champion
# w/ Acid Bath, Napalm Death, Pig Destroyer, Primitive Man
