photos by Ale Gasso
New Noise Magazine is hosting an exclusive premiere of “March Of The Wombats,” a brand new track from Gainesville, Florida-based melodic sludge trio, THUNDERCLAP. The track is found on the B-side of the band’s new Morkkis 7″ which is nearing release in the middle of the month through Ashtray Monument.
Formed by Todd Rockhill, Ale Gasso, and Salmon Nason – veterans of the Florida punk/underground scene who have played with the likes of Discount, The Draft, Unitas, The Future Now, House On Fire, Black Cougar Shock Unit, and others – THUNDERCLAP melds elements of doom and punk into emotive and impassioned music that has the potential to cross genres and reach multiple audiences. In 2019, THUNDERCLAP released their Inebriocean debut LP through Financial Ruin to positive reactions from fans and media alike amidst solid runs of East Coast shows with Meatwound and more. Trying to maintain some of that positive traction when the 2020 lockdowns went into effect, the band went to work on new material.
Featuring the lead track “Morkkis” and B-side track “March Of The Wombats,” the new 7″ captures the band’s mood as the world was raging with wildfires, protests and riots, racism and bigotry, and the onset of a deadly global pandemic. The songs feature hints of the members’ punk roots, blended with the usual THUNDERCLAP style of heavy, melodic, doomy riffs and tones. There is anger, there is sadness, and there is a hope and longing for a better future. Morkkis was produced by Roger Lima of Less Than Jake at The Moathouse in Gainesville.
Ale Gasso offers with the new single, “‘March Of The Wombats’ is a dark commentary on how we can so easily become cogs in the machine, eternally devoted to the jobs that we rely on for survival. Beginning with, ‘Is this really called living?,‘ the song calls into question what is known as the ‘daily grind’ begging the listener to, ‘Break me out of these four gray walls and…Drag my corpse through the street.’ The song ends on a note of hope with, ‘Take me to another place. Where I hope to find myself again.‘”
Hear THUNDERCLAP’s “March Of The Wombats” first only through New Noise Magazine now at THIS LOCATION.
Morkkis will see release on September 17th on 7″ vinyl and digital platforms through Ashtray Monument. Find preorders at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Also watch THUNDERCLAP‘s video for “Morkkis,” which was shot and edited by the band during the pandemic in 2020/21 to showcase some familiar Gainesville bars and venues as they struggled to find ways to stay open during the toughest times, playing HERE.
Having recently returned to playing live in recent weeks, THUNDERCLAP has confirmed several new shows across Florida in September and October, including the massive 19th installment of The Fest in their hometown joining Hot Water Music, Frank Turner, Baroness, Good Riddance, Samiam, Torche, and dozens more. Additional live dates and more news will be issued throughout the remainder of 2021 as the band continues writing material for their second LP.
THUNDERCLAP Live:
9/11/2021 Loosey’s – Gainesville, FL w/ Stunner [info]
9/24/2021 The Bark – Tallahassee, FL w/ Unico, Swamp, Torchmouth [info]
10/23/2021 Monufest – New Port Richey, FL [info]
10/31/2021 The Fest 19 – Gainesville, FL [info]
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