Members of Tomb Mold announce debut album from math rock/city pop alter ego ‘Second Last Day Of Summer’ due out 07/10 via Run For Cover Records.

Aurally opposite alter ego of lauded death metal band, Tomb Mold, have announced their debut album. Arriving July 10th via Run For Cover Records, the album is a feel-good fusion of math rock, city pop, and ’90s emo instrumentals that captures the bittersweet nostalgic fun of the waning summer months. To mark the album’s announcement they have shared lead single, an effervescent cut of intricate musicianship that’s as mind-bendingly technical as it is downright lovely. Led by Tomb Mold shredder Payson Power, along with the band’s drummer Max Klebanoff and bassist Kevin Sia, band formed in 2020 as a way of exploring melodic, catchy compositions well outside of their main band’s hyper-aggressive purview. Over the course of two EPs the group honed their bubbly blend of math rock, jazz, and city pop, along with video game soundtracks and anime scores to create their signature sound. Now with their debut album, the group have proven that the project has legs beyond its initial premise, and they’ve pushed the music and world building to even greater heights.

Daydream Plus‘ video game fandom goes beyond just influence: in addition to all the usual listening formats, the band teamed with Batlab Electronics to create an alternative chiptune version of ‘Second Last Day Of Summer’ called Extended Forecast, which is available exclusively via a limited NES compatible cartridge.

‘Second Last Day Of Summer’ tracklist:
1. Tutorial
2. Metropolitan Mirage
3. Speed Limit
4. Lockpick
5. Emergency Exit
6. More Time Alone
7. Stiletto Flourish
8. Nautical Twilight
9. Undertow
10. Hard To Destroy
11. Constellation
12. Wave Goodbye

Recorded by Darren McGill, then mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk,album is full of the kind of truly impressive musicality that Tomb Mold fans have long been familiar with, but here every flurry of notes is devoted to sounding lush and pleasing instead of crushing. A richly detailed video game sensibility informs Power‘s approach, with interludes that play like cutscenes and songs that build out an elaborate fantasy world with instrumentals alone. This attention to the most microscopic details is what allows full lenght to feel focused and controlled, bringing that city pop influence to the table in both a sonic and spiritual way. Release is also packed with surprising guests, including American Football’s Steve Lamos, Joseph Shabason of Destroyer and The War On Drugs, and Ryo Kishimoto of Fox Capture Plan. “I just wanted the album to feel like opening a can of pop on an above-average day” says Power, and the resulting record feels like a get together with friends on a carefree day–the fleetingly perfect times that are all the better because they can’t last.

Upcoming Shows:
07/17 Toronto, ON @ Double Double Convenience (record release show)
07/31 Toronto, ON @ New Friends Fest

photo credit: Andrew Blair