“Wonderfully cinematic, forward-thinking, open-minded, genre-hopping, rule-breaking… a symphony of sonics, subtlety and suppleness, and of the subverting of expectations” ~ Big Takeover Magazine
“‘Keep It’ is a relentless prowl of low rumbling concrete scattered with the glass shards of guitar and keyboards. The controlled chaos of the instrumentation is in slow motion… an epic feel, as well as the queasy sense of being drunk and disorientated in an dystopian landscape” ~ Joyzine
“Fascinating… This melodic journey expertly fuses the innovative textures of art rock with the insurgent spirit of alternative music… a complex and immersive auditory universe” ~ Post-Punk.com
“‘The coolness of electric jazz, Krautrock-inspired post-rock and atmospheric art rock… a gripping and upbeat refined sound & thoughtful arrangement with sonic prowess” ~ Amplify Music Magazine
“Chaotic and lovely“ ~ Punk Rock Beat
Chicago alternative rock outfit Evidence of a Struggle presents their new single ‘Le Caution’, along with its dark and brooding video. This is the third offering from their sophomore album, out May 9 via The Glue Factory and The Orchard, following the lead tracks ‘Eddy Derecho’ and ‘Give Us A Kiss’ – some pushback against incentivized control by media, government, religion, business, pharma, banking and mass media
Centred around the musings of multi-instrumentalist W P C Simmons V a.k.a. Rev. Billy Simmons, Evidence of a Struggle has grown since releasing their 2023 eponymous album to also involve Matt Walker (Smashing Pumpkins, Morrissey, of1000faces, Garbage, Filter) on drums, synths and bass, and John Airo, who provides visual art for the projects. The new album is a lyrical departure from Evidence of a Struggle’s 2023 debut instrumental album.
With recording, mixing and final production by Sanford Parker (Voivod, Russian Circles, Yob, Eyehategod, Wovenhand, Darkthrone), this album sees notable contributions by bassist Alan Berliant (Chris Connelly, Mavis Staples, Saint Asonia) and Solomon Walker (Liz Phair, Bryan Adams, Morrissey) with Grammy-nominated sound engineer Chris Gelin (Smashing Pumpkins, Trent Reznor, RZA, Tom Morello, Korn) handling post-production and mastering.
“For ‘Le Caution’ again, we wanted to utilize more AI-assisted generative video, as some would say — it’s a horrible curse, as others would argue it’s a surreal blessing,” says Rev. Billy Simmons.
“This video is another disturbing observation, a dreamlike looking glass into everything affecting us, traveling within the same currents as the other songs or videos are flowing, such as religion, money, war, inequity, inequality, pain, suffering, anger and, at the end of it all a visual statement of a profound change in our surroundings. Welcome back to the uncanny valley. Le Caution”.
Known for creating lush, cinematic, beautiful and sometimes chaotic compositions, Evidence of a Struggle spent most of 2024 weaving a dense tapestry of sonic, musical, lyrical and “visual observations” of what’s happening in our world now, in the past and what may happen in the future. Rooted within the chaos of our world, it is a loud and thoughtful sonic exploration of our unique ability as a species to harm, destroy, thoughtlessly marginalize, and discard with reckless disregard for anyone or anything outside of our immediate orbit.
Transforming into a musical chameleon at night, Rev. Billy’s day to day entails running Rev. Billy’s Chop Shop, a salon with a creative space that regularly showcases artists’ work (declared by Chicago Reader as the city’s best gallery). The forthcoming ‘Eddy Derecho’ album is a lyrical departure from Evidence of a Struggle’s debut instrumental album.
Rev. Billy previously collaborated with notable artists, such as RCA artist Ké, Urge Overkill, Touch and Go, and major labels like BMG and Universal. In 2020, he returned to music in the midst of lockdown boredom, allowing him a continued creative outlet. Playing every instrument and recording his debut album at The Glue Factory studio, he then joined forces with Sanford Parker.
‘Le Caution’ is out now, available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. On May 2, The full ‘Eddy Defecho’ album will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally.
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