Badvril is a band that thrives on the tension between small-town isolation and the frenetic energy of city life. Originally from the backwoods of Washington, Badvril now calls San Francisco home. The contrast between these two worlds is central to their chaotic, narcotic grunge sound and visually arresting art. Led by Becket Schroeder and closely accompanied by Tessa Piccillo, the duo brings their personal experiences together to create the narrative that defines the Badvril identity.
On their new single, “Away,” Badvril exercises the limits of their grunge influences with dashes of lush shoegaze. At the heart of the new single, there is an epic sonic battle between the cloud-like vocals and dense guitar melodies. At moments, it feels like the vocals are getting the best of the arrangement the way they slowly unravel in order to navigate the jagged instrumentation. The arrangement quickly fights back with searing guitar solos that get more grandiose and intense as the song plays, ending the duel in what seems like a dead tie. The conflict never feels like it is resolved, and that is the most fascinating part of “Away.” Rather than take the lazy way out by smashing a bunch of tropes from their influences together, Badvril pulls from the nuances of grunge and shoegaze to unearth a sound they can call their own. The band is both familiar and alien, and it would seem the duo wouldn’t want it anyother way. Badvril’s “Away” is an infectiously complex anthem that could only be created thanks to the band’s strenuous attention to detail.
“A grungy yet light opening track to the album, the lyrics express the struggles of trying to find yourself through other people and not feeling comfortable in your own skin,” explains the band.
