The São Paulo-based band Under Influence released their new EP, It Is What It Is, .
Featuring 5 tracks, the quartet combined influences from 90s melodic hardcore with elements from other genres, creating more elaborate arrangements and exploring new sounds. This is the group's second release, following their debut album Same Old, Same Old (2022).
The band exclusively told Wikimetal what each of the tracks means. Check it out below.
"198what?"
This song talks about everyday situations and the changing behavior of society in the post-social media era. It discusses how respect has become a variable and how people unite much more through hatred than through love or empathy. Musically, it's a fast and precise "tupatupa" (a Brazilian slang term for a catchy, rhythmic beat). The idea is to convey the intensity of the song's message through the melody.
"Longing"
Saudade is a word that, if I'm not mistaken, only exists in our language. So we wanted to "explain" the feeling of saudade by citing some moments we've lived through, in one way or another. This song is interesting because the four verses follow a vocal line, but all the chord and note progressions are different.
“We ain't no Bonnie and Clyde”
This song is unlike anything we've ever done. It starts with a thrash metal riff, goes through surf music, punk, and melodic hardcore. The song features a bass solo and other really cool lines. Lyrically, it's a parody about "not wanting to be Bonnie and Clyde." There are many songs that cite the couple as an inspiration. "What I'm saying is that I'm kind of lazy when it comes to dealing with so many emotions. And I joke that I don't make much noise at home because my neighbor is the guy who rents me an apartment for a fair price, and I don't want to bother him so I don't have to raise the price. All this talking about a couple's relationship." (Laughs).
"Satanic Part Two"
The name says it all. It's a continuation of Satanic 1, from our first album. We consider it a more pop-oriented song, although it's very fast and has a lot of detail. This is the most annoying song to play with a band, fitting everything together. It talks about how we live "live fast, die young," but we're still alive. And now? What can we do to endure the consequences of these many excesses throughout the years and youth?.
"Late"
This song talks about the speed at which the world is changing and how society responds to it, always accelerating and wanting more. Always skipping steps, chasing goals/success. And how this only shortens and saddens life, because we all know the final destination. So we talk about being "behind," but very happy about it because life is passing by faster and faster.