If you haven’t heard of indie rock band Anesthesia, you’re totally missing out. Self-described as a sadcore outfit, the music from the Naga-based four-piece sounds like a marriage of the Smiths, Taking Back Sunday, and Sonic Youth.
Made up of Francis Otordos, Marl Amador, Paul Salvador, and Matt Mandasoc (also, shout outs to their manager and fifth-member-at-heart, Cecille San Buenaventura), the band put out a new EP entitled Closures just last May 4, 2019, released under DIY label Struggle Records. The launch was accompanied by a successful gig in their hometown, supported by homegrown talents plus musicians from other parts of the country.
Released on mini CD and cassette tape, the cover art from the onset catches your attention—a fitting illustration done by Joesel Barrameda. The theme of drowning (and coffee) continues in the music, with the extremely catchy and somber opener “CBTL” setting the mood.
“Tell me, do I hold you down? Be honest, do I break you down?” asks the singer, to the backdrop of what appears to be a failed relationship. Several parts of the song beg to be jumped and screamed along to. The themes of isolation and getting left behind continue throughout the five-track EP, complete with memorable arrangements complementing the emotional vocal style.
On the fourth song, “Victoria,” the band takes a slightly different approach. The track, in contrast to the rest of the music, sounds more influenced by Dinosaur Jr. and Whirr, with its drenched vocals and dreamier guitars. The shift is a refreshing change, and its place in the EP still makes sense as a whole.
The final song, “Charm,” begins sounding like what could be the most optimistic song on the release, but when the lyrics come in, you realize you’re mistaken.
“I know I’ll be fine, because once in this life, I knew that you were mine” is probably the most positive line in Closures, and that says a lot about the sadness surrounding the work, both inside and out. This EP is an honest release for miserable people, and there’s a lot of miserable people out there. Surely, this will go far.
Listen to the full EP below:
Words by Kurvine Chua.