New 4-Way Split “Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes”

4-Way Split

Drunk Uncle, Rose Ceremony, Kerosene Heights, and Thorn Tire release a 4 way split.

Old Press Records just released their new split EP “Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes.” The split features Austin, Texas emo outfit Drunk Uncle, North Carolina “Emo Revival Revival” band Kerosene Heights, hard-hitting emo/skramz group Rose Ceremony, and Georgia skramz project Thorn Tire. Each band contributed two tracks to the eight-song EP which comes in at an action-packed 25 minutes.

“Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes” begins with Drunk Uncle’s “Achilles,” a sparkly, synthy tune that masterfully juggles heavy and subdued sections. After the second track, chiptune-infused ballad “Stave,” the EP moves on to Kerosene Heights’ anthemic track “Van of Leaves,” which sounds like it came straight from an unforgettable 2013 basement show. The band’s next track, “Manatee Shirt” pulls heavily from all the musical elements that made the 2010’s emo revival great, including spacey guitar riffs and a haunting horn (or melodica) line. Next, “Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes,” brings the intensity up a notch with Rose Ceremony’s “Final Rose,” which sets the stage for my favorite track on the split, “Take a Moment,” a head-pounding skramz song that takes no prisoners. As it finally comes to an end, the album refuses to lose any momentum with its final two tracks, Thorn Tire’s “Expel” and “Poser.” These two mosh-worthy songs are great examples of the blend of mathy riffs and brutal vocals that Thorn Tire has to offer.

“Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes” doesn’t waste a single second of its sub-30-minute runtime and is more than worth a listen if you’re a fan of emo of any sort. I’m now a huge advocate for multi-band split EP’s because of it.  

“Flint, Spark, Fire, Ashes” is available to stream on your preferred platform as of Friday, November 18th, 2022.