Undead Living shares debut EP

Standing at the crossroads of post punk and goth, newcomers Undead Living are a duo conjuring the spirit of the 1980s underground through their own modern lens. Featuring the talents of Avery Deering and Harrison Reed, the Portland-based outfit takes inspiration from artists like The Smiths, Blondie, Killing Joke and Depeche Mode, forging a sound wrapped in dark romanticism and rhythmic energy.

Their music balances danceable melancholy with razor-sharp emotional impact, capturing the context of youth and the heavy beauty of reflection. Formed in 2022, Undead Living spent three years developing their sound before unveiling their shared sonic vision to the world. Working closely with Texas-based producer Michael Briggs, they released their debut single “Dirty Persuasion” in May, followed swiftly by the sophomore outing“Part of Me.”

Now, their vision fully comes into focus with their eponymous debut EP, Undead Living. Their songs begin with a simple spark, a bass or guitar hook, then flourish in the practice room to the steady pulse of a drum machine. Once the groove feels right, they strip everything down, cutting excess until what remains is pure and alive.

For the EP, drums were recorded with Dean Adams of Rosegarden Funeral Party, a collaboration that brought power to the band’s rhythm section. Layer by layer, Avery and Harrison built the tracks back up; bass and guitar intertwining like nervous system synapses, modular synths flickering around the edges and vocals added last to complete the spell.

Thematically, Undead Living trace ideas of human connection, mental health and the urge for transformation. Opening track “Stay Here” lands with shimmering with pop appeal and emotional backdrop that recounts the tale of someone trapped between comfort and change, torn between the familiarity of a small town and the pull of a bigger, unknown world. Flowing with the bright plucks of guitar, the rustle of uptempo drums and capped by Avery’s elegant vocals spinning catchy melodic hooks, it’s an epic display of their engaging songwriting and performance panache.

Their debut single “Dirty Persuasion” follows, pulling the listener into a darker sphere, distilling the unnerving true story of a stalker who haunted Avery’s life. The track’s eerie vocals echo the paranoia of being watched, turning trauma into art through a haze of tense basslines and winding synth-fuelled unease. “Part of Me,” shifts the mood, capturing the liberating chaos of breaking free from a toxic relationship, wrapped up in an arrangement that balances delicate instrumentation and steady forward motion as Avery delivers instantly memorable leads throughout.

“Noseblunt” experiments with downtuned post punk grit, exploring how people mask their true selves to meet societal expectations, casting a smokey soundscape of rumbling bass lines, twanging lead guitar and commanding vocal performance. Closing the EP with “Big Fish,” they conclude the release in cinematic style with a dreamy, shoegaze-tinged outing brimming with misty guitar textures, shuffling percussion and graceful vocals, offering a stunning finale to their sensational debut EP.

Listen to Undead Living below