Ethereal rock duo Peace Ritual recently shared their shimmering new single, Seconds, out via Last Ride Records. The pair will play support for Movements (US) and Softcult (US) tonight in Melbourne and will make an appearance at Sydney’s New Bloom Festival this weekend. Tickets available via Destroy All Lines.
Produced by Dazy (aka Richmond, Virginia-based songwriter James Goodson)–who also co-wrote the song alongside the band and Sam Bassal (Ocean Grove)–and mixed and mastered by Justin Pizzoferrato (J Mascis, SASAMI, Wild Pink, Pixies), Seconds takes the “spiraling jangle-rock” and “skyward majesty” (Stereogum) of their 2022 self-titled debut EP to new heights. The result is a sweeping, urgent cut that sits perfectly at the intersection of The Cure and the Gin Blossoms.
“Seconds evolved into a love song about timing and dealing with the unknown, and reminds us to slow down and breathe through the noise,” explain Joel Martorana and Thomas Elliott, aka Peace Ritual.
“We teamed up with James to add a fresh twist to the song. We recorded it remotely, bringing in the idea of ‘time zones’ from the lyrics right into the making of the song. Self-recording played a crucial role, giving us the freedom to take our time and experiment with instrumentation, textures and sound design–and push through our own boundaries. We are also really excited to be cooking away on a larger body of work with James behind the scenes.”
Martorana and Elliott may have initially joined forces with the intention of starting a hardcore band, but the music they made together organically took a different path. Drawing on the dreamy romanticism of ’80s guitar and the driving hooks of ’90s alternative, the pair released their debut singlesTears of Joy and Trust Fall in early 2022, followed byCold Shoulder and their EP later that year.
Peace Ritual has seen praise from Stereogum, Guitar World Australia (“Soaring pop-rock with a tasteful crunch”), Atwood Magazine (about Tears of Joy “Stunning and sweet, seductive and soaring, this song has all the elements of a hit in the making”), Music Feeds, the AU Review, and more–in addition to extensive airplay on triple j and FBi Radio.
Peace Ritual take a unique place within the hardcore affiliated subculture, donning hypnotic and cult-like characteristics while searching for meaning and a sense of purpose along the way. They have previously played with Trophy Eyes, Fiddlehead, Boston Manor, Quicksand, AWOL and more.
Don’t miss Peace Ritual’s masterful blend of rock and roll for the soul at a show near you. Seconds is available and streaming everywhere now via Last Ride Records.
For more information, visit https://linktr.ee/Peaceritual
