New post-hardcore band Modernwelfare fuse elements of metal and alternative rock with electronic and pop influences in a sound they describe as “fun, fast and hopefully thought-provoking.”
The Orlando-based band is formed of Lucas Hay, a recovering addict and leasing agent from Pittsburgh, guitarists René Morales and Devin Davis, who are both music professors at F.I.R.S.T Institute in Orlando, and drummer John Yabut, who moved to the US from the Philippines. So all four members come from different places and have different stories to tell.
Indeed, Lucas tells us they: “Make a stand for the anti-establishment and present a voice for the soft-spoken but iron-hearted. A closer inspection will reveal stories of addiction, mental health, bullying, incarceration and the pursuit of the new American dream.”
Our latest taste of this is their fourth single Daunting, which was released in October. It opens up with a pulsing electronic beat and vocals, before a delicious high-pitched lick supported by driving drums and guitars. Engaging vocals are supported by the electronic pulse and a laid-back lick, before bursting into a big chorus “Where do we go when we die, How do we know we lived at all, We don’t, Is there light on the other side?”
A second chorus drops into light instrumentals then effects-ridden vocals burst into more intense renditions of the chorus, bringing the track to a heavy conclusion.
On the track’s release, Lucas told us: “So far it has been very positive overall. It’s Different from out past releases its more emo than post-hardcore but it seems to be overall a solid release for us. The song was inspired by the alt-rock band Flyleaf. The story behind the music is about the age-old question, where do we go when we die? If you like active rock, give it a listen!” Check it out here:
Earlier this year they released Forgive Us, which opens up with lively guitars and drums leading into a powerful verse and an intense chorus that concludes with the line “Forgive us for we know not we do.” That followed two singles last year, the most recent of which was Death Of Me, which opens up with chunky guitar chords that creep back in throughout the verse. A typically catchy chorus follows and, second time around, drops into lighter instrumentals before building up to a final blast of the chorus.
All of that follows a personal favourite in their debut single Walls, which begins with a delicious driving riff that’s joined by synths. It drops into vocals that intensify as they build into a big catchy chorus “When the walls come falling down, I hope I’m not the one you call, When you hurt somebody else, I hope they do the same to you, You can beg from your knees, But I’m not gonna be the one to lose it all, When the walls come falling down.”
A second chorus dips into driving guitars and a synth riff, the pace drops and stabbing guitar leads into a final smash of the chorus. Check it out in the video here:
Modernwelfare list the likes of Linkin Park, Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, I Prevail, Awake At Last, Dead Eyes, Crown The Empire and Bad Wolves as their biggest influences.
And on what inspires them to write music, Lucas tells us: “Addiction, mental health, bullying, incarceration and the pursuit of the new American dream. Love, hope and heartbreak. Music has always spoken to us. We just wanted to be a part of it.”
There’s more to come from Modernwelfare, who are busy writing new music, so keep an eye out for them in 2023. And Lucas adds: “We just want to make music, have fun and hopefully our music will speak to someone like our influences have spoken to us.”
You can follow Modernwelfare on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.
Listen to Modernwelfare on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Post-Hardcore and GigRadar Rock
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