This week, Punk Rock Bach is talking to a band about not its first, but SECOND self-titled album: Bruise Bath.
But don’t let yourself get wrapped up in the novelty of two self-titled albums from one band. The upcoming album, set to release in early November, has a mature sound and is created by musicians who mesh together quite well.
I spoke with Zak Krone, the band’s founder, guitarist and vocalist about the upcoming record. Check out that interview below.
Onward!
Bruise Bath’s Zak Krone discusses new album’s bleakness and Philly creativity
Zak Krone wants you to forget about the first self-titled Bruise Bath album.
“There’s part of me that almost wants to completely get rid of that first album,” Krone, who formed the band and serves as its vocalist and guitarist, said. “I don’t think the songs on it are bad, but it just isn’t what this [current] project is. You know, it doesn’t have that bleakness that I was kind of going for as much. It doesn’t have the weight that I feel like this new one does.”
Bruise Bath’s second self-titled album is set for a Nov. 6 release via Strange Mono Records. A news release indicates “all proceeds from tapes and 100% of downloads go directly to the artist's choice of benefit.”
Krone said the band chose Ark of Safety as its organization to benefit — a nonprofit that helps trans youth experiencing homelessness find a safe shelter.
“I think it checked off a number of boxes,” he said. “[Band member] Gab [Landrum] really wanted us to do something local, so that was part of it.”
And helping those who do not have a home, Krone said, helped take Bruise Bath to its current state. Krone said he and the band’s drummer, Jackson Miller, met initially while both worked at a Philadelphia homeless shelter.
“And then I also think that we’re living in a moment right now where it seems like trans people are kind of on the chopping block in a way that is expressly visible by the forces-that-be trying to, like, pawn off a lot of the ills of our society on trans people, or make them a scapegoat or a target, put a big target on their backs instead of, you know, actually taking care of the most vulnerable people that live in our society,” Krone said.
Philadelphia creativity
Bruise Bath hails from the “City of Brotherly Love:” Philadelphia. The modern music scene seems to have a wealth of musicians coming from or singing about that city.
“I’m pretty utilitarian when it comes to these things,” Krone said. “I think the reason that there’s so much great music in Philadelphia is that they’re: One - People who make art can still afford to live in Philadelphia, which a lot of major cities you can’t. And Two - it’s… you know, I have a deep fondness. It’s my home. I’m not trying to leave anytime soon. But the juxtaposition of lives that you see when you’re in Philadelphia is also very stark.”
He said the city has “a lot of opulence that’s right on top of extreme poverty and desperation.”
“There’s a way to try and engage with that, and I always try to be sort of respectful […] pitiable about, you know, seeing that. And it is also a very strange process to, like, watch yourself become… not ‘comfortable,’ but like that kind of thing, you know, over time,” Krone said.
“Almost everything is available to you in Philadelphia, for better and worse,” he said. “Like, you will get all kinds of experiences, so you’re not really being sheltered or cut off from anything.”
Bernie Sanders’ contribution
The upcoming album includes the track “Non Consensual Intervention,” which starts with an unexpected preface.
“Because we think we’re so free. We think we’re so democratic. Everybody has a say. We’re just as imperialistic as the Soviets are…if not more,” a woman’s voice says in a scratchy, seemingly analog recording before the music starts. “We’re the ones that go into the other countries and we start wars. What really scares me is that we’ve never had a war in our own country. We don’t know what it’s like. We push our luck. Maybe one day we will get invaded, and then maybe we’ll know what it’s like.”
Krone said that preface is a “little bit of an inside joke” for the band.
“So, that clip it comes from Bernie Sanders interviewing a bunch of mall goths in the ‘80s on, like, Vermont Public Access,” he said. “So you don’t hear him speak, but he’s the one holding the microphone when she’s talking.”
Watch the full clip here. The quote begins at time-stamp 3:58.
Krone said while that song is not about imperialism, it is about how people are persecuted or dominated.
The band doesn’t play the Sanders audio clip during live shows, Krone said, but he uses the song as a barometer to measure audience engagement.
“If when it gets really quiet, there’s no, like, side talking. That’s how I know people are with us, and they’re invested in what’s happening in front of them,” he said. “I love that song. I love playing that song. It’s really fun.”
Bruise Bath’s latest self-titled album is set for release on Nov. 6 via Strange Mono Records. It is available for pre-order via Bandcamp.
What I’m listening to…
You might remember a few weeks back, I interviewed Milo Aukerman about the rereleases of the Descendents’ albums “ALL” and “Liveage!”
After speaking with Aukerman, I pre-ordered both albums on CD and they arrived last week. I’ve been listening to them non-stop since receiving them.
The albums are great! It’s a lot of fun comparing the live version of “Clean Sheets” (on “Liveage!”) to the studio version (on “ALL”), and having both albums gives me listening options depending on what mood I’m in.
Highly recommended.
Thanks for reading! We’re back next week with dance music! Or at least an interview about the dance tracks created by Marci. She has a new album set to release later this month. Until then!