DC Punks Bacchae Return with Blistering New Single “Cooler Talk” (Get Better Records)
Bacchae In The Wilderness (CREDIT: Kara Donnelly)
Bacchae (that’s pronounced “BOCK-eye”) have been making eclectic, hooky Punk music in Washington, DC since 2016. Their sound veers between gnarly dissonance, bittersweet choruses, and earworm melodies. An excellent soundtrack for despairing about the state of it all, while channeling the anger to do something about it. Also, appropriate for mourning a dying relationship or envisioning yourself as a literal rat eating trash. Whether you're into 1970’s Proto-punk, 1980’s Synth-pop and Post-punk, or 1990’s Hardcore, you'll without a doubt find something to love here. Earlier this week, Bacchae triumphantly returned with their first taste of new music in four years since 2020’s Pleasure Vision, by way of new single “Cooler Talk.” It was recorded and mixed by J.Robbins (Jawbox, Government Issue, Against Me!) at The Magpie Cage Recording Studio and mastered by Dan Countant (Joshua, DOPE BODY, Iron Chic) at Sun Room Audio. “‘Cooler Talk” is an anti-work anthem that may make you want to bolt off the corporate floor and into the pit. “Cooler Talk” is a raucous reminder of how someone at the top is always breathing down your neck, quantifying your “value” in the name of Capitalism,” Bacchae shared within a statement.
Sample lyrics from “Cooler Talk” include, “we give them the best / parts of our days / they treat us like dogs / in a comfortable cage!,” which we’re sure we can all, unfortunately, relate to when discussing work. Bacchae’s line-up still consists of vocalist/keyboardist Katie McD., bassist/vocalist Rena Hagins, drummer Eileen O’Grady, and guitarist Andrew Breiner. “Cooler Talk” channels the same frantic, nervous energy as a few of our favorites, namely including, fellow DC favorites Bad Brains and Henry Rollins-era Black Flag, as well as Dead Kennedys and Riot grrrl pioneers Bikini Kill. It’s unclear as to what else in addition to “Cooler Talk” Bacchae have in store for us next, but we’re assuming it’s either an EP and/or full-length follow-up to Pleasure Vision; especially, since Bacchae posted on Instagram that they would be “recording again” with J.Robbins in the Fall of 2023 and we imagine they would have recorded more than just one single song! However, for now, Bacchae’s “Cooler Talk” is available to stream on your platform of choice through Get Better Records. Bacchae’s next scheduled (and only) gig (at the moment) is this Friday night, April 5, 2024, at 8:00pm at Black Cat in DC with Ekko Astral & Pure Adult for something that’s mysteriously being billed as “LOVE IN CONCERT: LIVE RECORD TAPING.” We would, also, suggest giving Bacchae a Follow on social media to stay in tune for whatever may be coming next…
Black Cat show flyer and Bacchae member portraits (SOURCE: X / CREDIT: Ave, @averydavis)
