PHOTO CREDIT: Simon Wilson
Auckland/Dunedin based band Long Distance Runner have shared On/Off, the latest single from their upcoming album Shadow, which is set for release on July 15 via local imprint Sunreturn.
Simon Oswald, Jono Glenday, Sam Cussen, and Sam Shepherd make up the 90s shoegaze and East Coast screamo influenced Long Distance Runner, an aggressive rock group, delivering a dissonant fury unrivalled by most.
On / Off ominously builds, layering dissonance and discordance. It's a masterclass in patience, and the heel turn two thirds of the way through the track is worth every second of the wait.
For those who like their tunes hard and heavy; check out the new single below!
"We wrote On/Off in our first year as a band" notes guitarist Jono Glenday. "It came together organically and quickly became a staple at the end of our live sets. It almost feels meditative to play, capturing and holding on to all of the built up energy from the previous songs until the release at the end. We've tried to record it for every previous release (2017's No Value and 2019's No Escape) but it never worked out. I'm so happy with how it sounds and can't wait for people to hear this recorded version.
"Lyrically On/Off is about the expression of negative emotions and the negative aspect of its repression," says vocalist Simon Oswald.
"Often when discussing heavy music people tend to say things like "oh I don't like it, 'it makes me angry' etc. But for me it's a cathartic expression of these negative emotions. Through music I can turn them on or off. I can express them, I can exhaust them and I can take away their power."
On / Off is a fitting closure to Long Distance Runner's upcoming album Shadow (out July 15 via Sunreturn).