After a hiatus following their 2019 comeback album Wild Gods, The Number Twelve Looks Like You has blasted back onto the scene with an explosive new single, "Eyes On The Fireworks." This track marks a significant shift for the New Jersey-based mathcore veterans, known for their chaotic and intricate sound. The band has embraced a more straightforward and catchy post-hardcore anthem, making this release particularly accessible yet no less potent.
Frontman Jesse Korman's piercing lyrics take center stage, challenging unchecked patriotism and the illusions of American exceptionalism with a timely message that resonates deeply in today’s socio-political climate. Korman critiques, “Americans often assert that our claim to being the greatest country in the world rests on our freedom," a freedom paradoxically celebrated amid unresolved national crises like healthcare, housing, gun violence, and more.
Accompanied by a striking music video directed by Jaakko Manninen, which composites the band into scenes of nuclear tests and other disturbingly apt imagery, the song's visuals are as provocative as its lyrics. The video cleverly juxtaposes the band's performance against backdrops of national turmoil, emphasizing the disconnect between American festivities and the country’s international and domestic policies.
This release also serves as a bit of a reintroduction of the band with its new lineup, featuring Jesse Korman and guitarist Alexis Pareja alongside newcomers Michael DeMarco on drums and Cody McCorry on bass. "Eyes On The Fireworks" also celebrates their new partnership with Equal Vision Records, promising a fresh era for the band that both honors their roots and pushes new boundaries.
As fans and new listeners alike anxiously await the potential announcement of a full-length follow-up to Wild Gods, The Number Twelve Looks Like You has set high expectations with a track that's as reflective as it is rousing. With "Eyes On The Fireworks," the band not only questions the narratives fed by national pride but also invites listeners to ponder what true freedom should look like.