Setting the tone with a bold exclamation of “hey!“, Anfang open Honey Trudge with an immersive alternative rock soundscape filled with intricate drum riffs before sharing atmospheric vocals and metaphorical lyricism.
We are immediately mesmerized by the guitar performances and the charismatic nature of the vocal delivery from Andie Zaragoza, showcasing Anfang‘s relatable message. Speaking on their cohesive approach to song-writing, the band confesses, “Searching for meaning or purpose often feels a pointless exercise, a continuous cycle of pilgrimage to the same tired answers of our upbringing. We wander in the desert, seeking absolutes or absolution, finding neither. We are alone, together.”
The opus expands with tangible depth as the Chicago-based trio take us on an introspective journey with their prose and sonic dimensionality. We learn that Anfang means “to start over”, which is what the quartet did in 2018, as they “emerged out of the ashes of previous projects.”
The band share authenticity and prowess on Honey Trudge, which holds a profound and scintillating energy, and we can only imagine the act is incredible to experience in a live setting! The guitar solos are simply out of this world, and have us fully in awe before a minimalist breakdown and iconic final reprise!
Anfang cite Queens of the Stone Age, Arctic Monkeys, Jack White, Claudio Sanchez, Thomas Erak, Chris Cornell, Black Sabbath, Blood Red Shoes, and Led Zeppelin as sonic peers, but it is clear that the band is creating a universe of its own. They tell us, “Our sound is hard hitting yet atmospheric, kind of like the human heart in conflict with itself.”
We have added Honey Trudge to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we continue to stream Anfang‘s wider discography including Ghost Ship and Guerrilla Mitts.