Boston’s Krill have never shied away from searching inward. Released in 2013, the trio’s previous record, Lucky Leaves, struck a delicate balance between intense sadness and self-deprecating wit. Now, we have a much-awaited peek at Krill’s forthcoming third album, A Distant Fist Unclenching, in the form of its first single “Torturer”.
A well-crafted tale of personal horror, “Torturer” continues in this vein. Our protagonist is confronted by a mysterious masked intruder, and when the tables turn suddenly, he’s left scrambling in the dark. “Is it time to go back inside?” singer Jonah Furman begs. Amidst the confusion, a soft, ghost-like rhythm creeps, guitars slither, drums crash. “Torturer peels off mask and I holler,” he soon reveals. “Finally realize he is I.”
When darkness approaches, do we welcome it home? Or do we simply close the door? As we’ve come to expect from Krill, there are questions, but no definitive answers. “Torturer” exists in the shadowy middle ground, an intriguing glimpse at whatever new complexities A Distant Fist Unclenching might offer.
A Distant Fist Unclenching is out February 17 on Exploding In Sound. You can preorder the LP now on Bandcamp.
