The Sonder Bombs “k.” Track Review

With their sophomore album Clothbound on the horizon, alternative indie band The Sonder Bombs have put out the record’s fourth single “k.” — two minutes and forty-seven seconds of frazzled savagery. While the title presents the track with a passive-aggressive demeanor, the song’s lyrics and energy are boldly upfront. Vocalist Willow Hawks describes the inspiration behind the lyrics, “The overwhelming presence in music of those who will not take responsibility for their actions infuriates me. That fury inspired this song.”

The verses are driven by alternating ukulele and guitar that underscore the song’s exasperated theme. The continual ukulele depicts the undying lack of accountability Hawks is singing about, while the fuming guitar chords that cut in render the building frustration she feels. She berates the egocentric patterns of fellow musicians and artists through gritty lines such as, “Treat your pearls like shit / You’ve always been entitled to it / Run your morgue mouth quick / Parseltongue and electric tips.” After the second verse, the song erupts into a blowout of unfiltered rage. Dissonant guitars, heavy bass and pummeling drum fills fluctuate over intermittent vocal cries, escalating into chaos right before falling back into the chorus. In under three minutes, The Sonder Bombs illustrate what mental whiplash sounds like through turbulent progressions of sudden stops and sharp turns.

The new album Clothbound will be releasing on January 29 via Take This To Heart Records. Listen to “k.” below and on your favorite streaming platforms!