Pyrophonics
Heavenward
June 16, 2023Heavenward, the 90s inspired alternative rock act and musical brain child of Kamtin Mohager has announced its new album titled "Pyrophonics" set for release on June 16th through Mohager’s own label, Fever Ltd.
Sometimes to create is a selfish cycle, and for Heavenward writing the upcoming album, Pyrophonics, was an outwardly therapeutic experience. Coming from the mind of Kamtin Mohager (The Chain Gang of 1974, ex-Teenage Wrist), Heavenward showcases noise, feeling, and aggression through words of destruction and reflection. The ten songs on the album blend alternative rock with moments of shoegaze and dark pop, focusing heavily on melody and arrangements. Lead single “Gasoline,” out now and streaming below, pulls you right into Mohager’s thought process from the opening line “Can’t make sense of certain things inside my head” through lyrical themes of finding comfort in mortality. Shimmering guitars travel across lamenting vocals before building into an electrifying climax. It’s a fitting first glance into what Pyrophonics is all about.
Mohager expands:
“The album is about my personal acknowledgement of my personal struggles, and for lack of a better term, my “demons.” In a not so healthy way, accepting the darkness within and continuing to live your life. Possibly even embracing them. This is why I decided to call the album Pyrophonics. Simply put, it’s a destructive language for yourself.”
Heavenward came to be in 2019 when Mohager knew he had more to explore in the realm of creating music. He launched with lead single “Hole” in September 2020 (which now boasts over 500k plays on Spotify) and continued on the single path leading to the EP, Staircase Music, in February 2022. Pyrophonics finds Mohager’s full vision coming to fruition through a compelling ten songs. It would be easy to throw comparisons to contemporaries like Narrow Head, but Heavenward takes a poppier approach pulling from influences like Catherine Wheel and Year Of The Rabbit. Mohager wrote and performed nearly the entirety of the album himself, recruiting Marshall Gallagher (Teenage Wrist), Austin Hayman (Dear Boy) and Mike Robinson (Blame My Youth) for writing collaborations and additional guitar/drum work. It was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Zach Tuch (Zulu, Dare, Initiate) at the beginning of this year.
Heavenward may be a familiar face, but the music provides a fresh sound and perspective that makes Pyrophonics one of the most exciting upcoming releases in the world of alternative rock.
RIYL: My Vitriol, Catherine Wheel, Narrow Head, Teenage Wrist, Swervedriver
Reviews of Pyrophonics on Release Wave
Heavenward creates a bright swirl of alt-grunge on single "Choke"
Heavenward just dropped the second single "Choke" off their forthcoming debut LP. On Heavenward’s new single “Choke,” bright melodies and grunge-centric guitars swirl amongst soaring vocals creating an immense sound. Coming from the mind of Kamtin Mohager (The Chain Gang of 1974, ex-Teenage Wrist), the track serves as the second single off the upcoming album Pyrophonics, which will release out June 16th on Fever Ltd.
Speaking on how the song came together, Mohager states:
“‘Choke’ was one of the first ideas that I had written for the album. The song focuses on the struggles that came with leaving behind something that was very important to me. I think we, as humans, sometimes fear the repercussions of leaving an unhealthy relationship solely based on the struggles that come with starting over again. I had to face a lot of new realities after making these certain changes in my life."something here.
Heavenward embraces grungegaze on latest single "Be My Blues"
Heavenward has just released “Be My Blues”, the third single off the forthcoming debut album Pyrophonics, on June 16th through Fever Ltd, following the previously released alternative-leaning singles “Gasoline” and “Choke”. On “Be My Blues,’ pining vocals are surrounded by synth and guitars laced with feedback to create a lush, encompassing sound before breaking off into heavier moments. The track was originally penned as demo for Mohager’s previous band, Teenage Wrist, and became fully realized when creating Pyrophonics.
Speaking on the lyrics, Mohager states:
“I wanted to write about the lust and desire that often comes with an unhealthy relationship. You can get so accustomed to the unfair treatment and disrespect that you end up justifying it in order to feel some sort of attention. In a way, you use those moments as emotional or physical fulfillment, having the acts become somewhat fetishized."