Song of the Day: Chain of Flowers - Death's Got a Hold on Me

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part of our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Today’s song, featured on the Morning Show with John Richards, is “Death's Got a Hold on Me” by Chain of Flowers from the 2016 album Chain of Flowers on Alter.

Chain of Flowers - Death's Got a Hold on Me (MP3)

The Cardiff sextet Chain of Flowers don't harness their wall of distorted guitars as much as they embracingly allow its sonic cacophony to blow over them. Formed in 2012, the group began gigging throughout the United Kingdom and released its debut single "Sleep" the following year. Further gigs and recording sessions resulted in a batch of songs that would eventually become the band's self-titled debut, which was recorded in 2014 but only saw release in the fall of 2015. Chain of Flowers wears its Cure-referencing title well, incorporating a gauzy sense of melody with an undeniable shoegaze fury. "Death's Got a Hold on Me", a standout from the eight-track LP, features frontman Josh Smith singing like he's trying to claw himself out of Hell one lyric at a time. And even though he wails like he just might be the resurrection on "Death's Got a Hold on Me", matched only in his snarling bluster by his bandmates' messy, chaotic performance. Unflinchingly screaming at their inevitable mortality, the group push both the volume and their performances on "Death's Got a Hold on Me" in a way that very few of their stylistic predecessors ever embraced, and in a dramatic and relentless song, they own up to the noise-pop legacy they've clearly presented themselves as the heir to.

Chain of Flowers will play their first North American gig as part of Berserktown III in Los Angeles on August 13, and more U.S. dates will be announced over the next month. Look out for those forthcoming tour dates and find more music at their website and Facebook page. For now, listen to "Crisis", another song from the LP: