Touché Amoré recently held a livestream to celebrate the release of their new album “Lament”, seeing as how touring behind the album is put on hold until it’s safe to have live music indoors again (and presumably everyone’s vaccinated). If you happened to miss the stream when it happened, however, you’re in luck: Touché Amoré have archived the performance in its entirety, so you can watch the whole thing. It’s a full, 40-minute set performed inside of an empty venue, with a light show. The set includes the entirety of Lament, as well as non-album singles and a few highlights from their 2016 album Stage Four. It’s just the blistering post-hardcore performance you need, but almost certainly haven’t had the chance to see all year.
As part of the GRAMMY Museum’s Programs at Home series, Moderator Scott Goldman talks with Los Angeles post hardcore band Touché Amoré about the recent release of their fifth studio album, “Lament”. Since their formation in 2007, Touché Amoré has been burrowing through angst, alienation, cancer, and death throughout four adored studio albums. After over a decade of working through darkness, Lament, finds the light at the end of the tunnel. The album arrives as the follow-up to the band’s critically acclaimed 2016 release, Stage Four, which found vocalist Jeremy Bolm mourning and paying tribute to his late mother. Lament shines a light on what life for the band has been like since then, tackling themes of fragility, empathy, politics, and love while pushing forward a newfound sense of hope.
Post-hardcore band Touché Amoré released their long-awaited fifth studio album “Lament” via Epitaph Records. The album is produced by Ross Robinson, who’s worked with Glassjaw, Slipknot and Korn. Lead single “Limelight,” which features Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull, is as chaotic as Touché’s other songs, though it’s quiet at first, with Bolm’s scratchy vocals making the most noise. Hull’s silky vocals are a great addition to the post-hardcore/emo mess. Touché Amoré’s last studio album was 2016’s critically-acclaimed Stage Four, which reckoned with the death of frontman Jeremy Bolm’s mother. It was powerful and evocative, and Bolm’s poetic lyricism resonated with many. Since then, they re-recorded their album “To the Beat of a Dead Horse”, and they released a live album and some one-off singles.
After extensively grieving his mother on 2016’s Stage Four, Touché Amoré singer Jeremy Bolm just wanted to move on. As Lament makes clear, though, it wasn’t that easy. “It’s not how it was, but it’s not getting lighter,” he yells on “Limelight,” the album’s soaring lead single. Bolstered by an extensive recording session with legendary nü-metal producer Ross Robinson, Touché Amoré fine-tune their trademark brand of post-hardcore on Lament and make every note serve a purpose, from the enormous “Deflector” to the tenderhearted “I’ll Be Your Host.” Bolm may not feel like he’s basking in sunshine just yet, but by the sound of Lament, he’s found the next best thing: the promising warmth of a sunrise and the glimmer of determination that comes with it.
It’s October 9th which means “Lament” is officially out worldwide. We’ve been working on this album on and off for a couple years now and for it to be finally out feels extremely gratifying. Working with Ross Robinson was a dream and a privilege we don’t take for granted. He taught us new things about ourselves every step of the way and this album wouldn’t be what it is if it wasn’t for his most sincere devotion to every decibel of sound any of us made from an incorrect note, embarrassing voice crack or getting something just right. We can’t thank the hard working people at epitaph enough for indulging all our wild ideas with vinyl packaging / flexis / music videos and more. Andy Hull, Julien Baker and Justice Tripp for lending us your voices however big or small, we understand that finding the time and energy in the times we are living in can feel like monumental tasks so to have your energy and grace on this album is something we’ll cherish forever.
Last but not least thank you to the kindness, patience, and understanding of those who have purchased the LP, streamed the album, or shared a kind word about its release. Following Stage Four wasn’t an easy task and often felt unachievable. We are so proud of Lament and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it. Seldom can a band evolve so organically and still remain relevant,
The sound of pure anguish with a glint of hope.
Released October 9th, 2020 The Band:
Jeremy Bolm – Vocals
Clayton Stevens – Guitar
Nick Steinhardt – Guitar
Elliot Babin – Drums
Tyler Kirby – Bass
All songs written by Touché Amoré except * Written by Touché Amoré & John Andrew Hull
“Limelight” (feat. Manchester Orchestra) by Touché Amoré from the album ‘Lament,’ available now
I don’t know who it was that once said “From moments of sadness, moments of destruction, moments of grief, from those moments beauty can spring forth like a rare flower that only blooms once a year in the coldest snow and darkest night.” Actually, I do know who said.
‘Stage Four’ by Touché Amoré. Lyrically it’s an album that details the treatment, suffering and final days of vocalist Jeremy Bolm’s mum, before she passed away from cancer in 2014. And what a fucking album it is. I was Completely blindsided by how emotionally raw this album is. They’ve always dealt with some heavy issues, but this one just blew me to bits. Remember last year when Sufjan Stevens released the heart-wrenchingly incredible ‘Carrie and Lowell’, an album all about his absent mum and her passing? Well, take that album, but instead of Sufjan being sombre and sad, he’s really, Really angry. That’s ‘Stage Four’. I can’t even begin to comprehend the emotional pull this album must have on all the band, but especially Bolm. The loss of a loved one is a hard and trying time for anyone, but to then be brave enough to get on stage and spill your heart out about it and how you now feel about it and all your fears and insecurities .
Just go and listen to it. Every song reveals a new unforgettable detail about Bolm’s mother’s treatment, his inner mental health and his constant wrestling with grief and depression. Bolm easily cycles through the stages of grief at least 27 times repeatedly throughout the album. Lines such as “I took inventory of what I took for granted and I ended up with more than I imagined” and “She passed away about an hour ago when you were onstage living the dream” are utterly shattering and they’re peppered throughout the whole album. There are parts of songs that Bolm sings in clean vocals, in a voice that almost sounds as if it’s on the very edge, creeping closer to completely letting go, and I was right there with him.When you listen to it, don’t you dare tell me you listened to ‘Skyscrapers’ without welling up at all. I almost blub every time I hear that song. Bolm’s uninhibited howls of pure grief at the huge climax sends shivers down my spine. That isn’t singing, it’s pure emotion and the weight of the loss washing over him, and by an easy extension me. And then her final voice message plays, and your heart is broken all over again.
It is a knockout punch of emotion, a raging sea in the midst of a storm, Please go and listen to it. Bring some tissues.
The Fat Angel Sings 