Sleeping with Sirens treated fans to a new single, “We Like It Loud,” via their SoundCloud to kick off the new year. Taking into account the song’s overall contents (and starting off with an elongated screamed “yeah” and demand to “turn up [your] f***ing headphones”), they appear to be hoping their fans like it loud, too. Based on Twitter’s Worldwide Trends alone, I think it’s safe to say they do.
Since 2010, Sleeping with Sirens have released three full-length albums and one EP via Rise Records. Their most recent release, Feel, seemed to be a departure from the usual sound the band had, with slightly more pop undertones and more structure, at least when it came to frontman Kellin Quinn’s vocals.
Now, in 2015, the band has hopped over to Epitaph Records, an announcement first made simply with the release of a music video for “Kick Me” on the label’s YouTube channel this past November. With both “Kick Me” and “We Like It Loud,” the band has upped the rawness and pissed off emotion in their approach overall with a fast tempo and loud vocals. This all hints at a possible new direction for the band’s sound with their forthcoming EP or full-length.
In “We Like It Loud,” Quinn has seemed to ditch singing for more of a spoken tone at high levels, bordering on a straight scream at points particularly (and obviously) when singing the title of the song. While that description may make it seem like what you’re hearing is awful, it isn’t. It’s just quite different from what they’ve been touring off of for the past year or so, and it may take some getting used to, especially for those not as familiar with their pre-Feel sound.
While overall the track is catchy, the lyrics bring it down a notch. They really left nothing to the imagination as the band essentially tells it like it is. They even seem to mention a return to their roots or at the very least a straightforward response to those accusing them of selling out: “Sell us the world, but we ain’t selling out.” Quinn continues this by singing, “No, don’t want to hear no songs on the radio, pumping through my stereo now,” as if to prove they do indeed not plan to change their sound simply for the chance of more exposure.
Outside of now being signed to Epitaph, details on Sleeping with Siren’s next EP or full-length have yet to be released. In the meantime, the band will begin the second leg of their co-headlining tour with Pierce the Veil later this month.