As a whole, humanity doesn’t really like contradictions. Understanding and consistency bring us some comfort in a world that often feels chaotic and bleak. As much as we don’t want to hear it though, we are inherently contradictory creatures. Our own personal consistencies are often only achieved by compartmentalizing all the contradictory bits in separate boxes.
But Melbourne alt-rockers Catholic Guilt aren’t afraid of a little contradiction. Their new single “Live For the Rush” is an anthem for the opposing feelings and beliefs that we carry inside of ourselves all the time.
The song’s chorus embraces the cacophony of experiences that we collect in our innermost beings, declaring, “I want to create and destroy at the same time, I want to laugh and cry at once, I want to change the world but not impact mine, I want to feel everything, all at once.” In the face of an endless deluge of headlines about years-long pandemic, political unrest, growing inequalities, and whatever else might make us all feel like we’re having a collective aneurysm, many of us have become emotionally numb as a coping mechanism.
Even beyond that, it can be paralyzing to look at what’s happening in the world and decide how to react to it. Do we fight tooth and nail against those that would subdue the world? Do we create beauty in defiant joy? Do we weep for those being crushed beneath the weight of oppression? Catholic Guilt has offered up an answer to those who would choose D, all of the above, set to hook-laden alt-rock that’s sure to thrill fans of 00’s scene heroes like The Ataris, Saosin, and Taking Back Sunday.
Look out for their sophomore album, out later this year through Wiretap Records.
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