East Coast newcomers ¡Ponce!, are back with a pacey and resonating entry into the early fall Midwest emo releases.
"Heart of The Cards" sees the Connecticut crew's vibrant, jarring style come to the fore, sparring complex time signatures with accessible, jangly melodies.
Discussing the new track, lead vocalist Joseph Omeluk shares: "“Heart of The Cards is a song written about vicariously living through the world of a well known animated show about card games known as Yugioh. It depicts the events of an average battle within the confines of that world through the lens of someone who imagines themselves inside of said circumstance.This is one of the popular anime I watched as kid and ultimately holds a lot of nostalgia while featuring a very fun world and character selection therefore it is something I’ve always imagined doing. Beyond that, the music itself is inspired by general math rock, emo, rock, etc. type music., especially the instrumental bridge which features a fun 7/4 time signature”
You don't have to look far beyond the band moniker (taken from 00s cult cartoon Clone High) and the title of debut EP - ¡Ponce! are...(The Wizards of Time & Infinity) - to comprehend the Connecticut outfit's fantastic thematic influences and lyrical references. Tales of mystery, magic and mayhem are grounded in the band's defined, technically proficient brand of modern rock.
Come along to a ¡Ponce! show and be greeted by costumes and convivial fan interaction, a removal - perhaps - from the usual straight-faced, banter-lite expectation that fans might expect from a band of this genre.
Whilst the rookie collection gave fans a first look at the trio's intricate sonic stylings, the new material doubles down on the ¡Ponce! soundscape. Following on from the delightfully jagged "Attack on Titan", which dropped in August, "Heart of The Cards" is an arresting and unpredictable follow up, laced with angular guitars and splashes of pop sensibility as ¡Ponce! continue their new cycle with a mathy aplomb.
Keep up to date with the band via Instagram.
