After returning with new single "Not Again" last month, the OBGMs have lifted the curtain on a new full-length record. The Toronto punk trio will release The Ends on October 30 through Black Box Music.
"This album is about death, wanting to die, and fighting for something to live for — it's the end of all things. I feel this is the one of the most important cross-genre albums this century," explained vocalist/guitarist Densil McFarlane in a statement. "We are Nirvana, we are the Beatles, and the Stones. We are really changing the dimensions of which the game is played like the Steph Curry of this rock shit. We all have feelings of doubt, uncertainty, and I used to live there. I'm trying not to die there. If I'm going out, I'm going out shooting."
Produced by Dave Schiffman and recorded at Toronto's Dreamhouse Studios, The Ends follows the OBGMs 2017 self-titled debut. McFarlane recalled that after touring that record, "I thought me and music was over... My life wasn't very good at the time, people around me were dying, and everything I was making sucked. I thought it was a sign that I needed to do something else."
A six-month hiatus and some soul searching led McFarlane to pick up the pen once more. "I basically had a conversation with myself and found that the reasons I was making music were wrong and upside-down," he said. "I was making it to fit a certain mould, but it lacked truth. It lacked honesty. That's why it wasn't able to come out the way I wanted it to. So I changed my strategy on songwriting. I started talking about things that were more relevant to me and more relevant to my community — and just talking about how I actually feel in words that are not compromising."
The restless groove of "Fight Song" arrives alongside today's announcement — complete with a video shot and edited by McFarlane — which you can find below.
Of the track, he offered, "You ever sitting in your 9-5 and someone talking reckless and you really want to punch them in their head top? You ever get that passive aggressive email from that disrespectful person and you want to walk to their cubicle and tell them about their mom? I wrote this song so I wouldn't have to hold my tongue. We want the smoke. All of it. You don't like us, fight me, or get the hell out of the way. You can't stop us, this is how we die."
McFarlane added, "This is a Black-fronted punk band, and that's really important. Rock'n'roll is mostly white suburban kids — that's what gets promoted. But we are Black and we out here. I was inspired to make rock music when I saw a Black guy on stage, and if someone sees that in us, I hope it will inspire a new generation to go after this."
The Ends:
1. Outsah
2. Cash
3. All My Friends
4. Fight Song
5. Not Again
6. Triggered
7. WTFRU
8. Karen O's
9. To Death
10. Move On
Pre-order The Ends.
"This album is about death, wanting to die, and fighting for something to live for — it's the end of all things. I feel this is the one of the most important cross-genre albums this century," explained vocalist/guitarist Densil McFarlane in a statement. "We are Nirvana, we are the Beatles, and the Stones. We are really changing the dimensions of which the game is played like the Steph Curry of this rock shit. We all have feelings of doubt, uncertainty, and I used to live there. I'm trying not to die there. If I'm going out, I'm going out shooting."
Produced by Dave Schiffman and recorded at Toronto's Dreamhouse Studios, The Ends follows the OBGMs 2017 self-titled debut. McFarlane recalled that after touring that record, "I thought me and music was over... My life wasn't very good at the time, people around me were dying, and everything I was making sucked. I thought it was a sign that I needed to do something else."
A six-month hiatus and some soul searching led McFarlane to pick up the pen once more. "I basically had a conversation with myself and found that the reasons I was making music were wrong and upside-down," he said. "I was making it to fit a certain mould, but it lacked truth. It lacked honesty. That's why it wasn't able to come out the way I wanted it to. So I changed my strategy on songwriting. I started talking about things that were more relevant to me and more relevant to my community — and just talking about how I actually feel in words that are not compromising."
The restless groove of "Fight Song" arrives alongside today's announcement — complete with a video shot and edited by McFarlane — which you can find below.
Of the track, he offered, "You ever sitting in your 9-5 and someone talking reckless and you really want to punch them in their head top? You ever get that passive aggressive email from that disrespectful person and you want to walk to their cubicle and tell them about their mom? I wrote this song so I wouldn't have to hold my tongue. We want the smoke. All of it. You don't like us, fight me, or get the hell out of the way. You can't stop us, this is how we die."
McFarlane added, "This is a Black-fronted punk band, and that's really important. Rock'n'roll is mostly white suburban kids — that's what gets promoted. But we are Black and we out here. I was inspired to make rock music when I saw a Black guy on stage, and if someone sees that in us, I hope it will inspire a new generation to go after this."
The Ends:
1. Outsah
2. Cash
3. All My Friends
4. Fight Song
5. Not Again
6. Triggered
7. WTFRU
8. Karen O's
9. To Death
10. Move On
Pre-order The Ends.