When punk trio VIAL dropped their debut album, LOUDMOUTH, back in 2021, a ticking time bomb began counting down to the currently exploding popularity of the band. Drawing their name from a brainstorming session for words they thought were cool, taking Dave’s Pants out of the running, the Minneapolis band formed in 2019 and operated under Taylor Kraemer (keytarist/bassist) and KT Branscom (guitarist) until they met their drummer Katie Fischer on Tinder.
Since their debut, aside from a few singles, including a cover of Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings,” they’ve been hard at work building up an archive of music like it’s an arms race. Contrary to their upcoming album title, burnout, out March 29 via Get Better Records, the band keeps picking up steam leading up to their headlining US tour. Of the 22 tour dates, VIAL will perform in LA at El Cid on May 23.
“apathy,” released alongside a music video, is the final burnout single, starting as an almost somber reverie of a song before the thermometer reaches an all-time high with the gradually scorching guitar. The difference between the opening of the song and the second to third half is night and day, with the former showing a side of the three not heard in their more punk-heavy hits. But in the context of candid songwriting, it’s the perfect approach to delivering the message and showing the band can step outside their wheelhouse.
Branscom’s lyrics tell a different story against the relentless drums growing louder in intensity. Lines such as “I wanna be mad / I wanna feel anything, anything in my head” speak to how desensitized they’ve become in the wake of someone not understanding them. More than anything, Branscom’s vocals match the same intensity as the instruments and communicate a certain numbness that eventually boils into frustration.
This year, VIAL plans to release all the new music they’ve “been spending YEARS on, and hopefully surprise listeners by releasing some top-secret super-special tracks.”
On top of offering fans new and exciting material, burnout will fuel their still-growing flame for the next few months. There’s already an audible leap between LOUDMOUTH and what’s been released of burnout so far. Not because LOUDMOUTH wasn’t a promising debut for a trio that gets better each release, far from it. But “apathy,” “falling short,” and other singles show the rapid evolution of a band experiencing a thundering come-up story.
Words: David Sosa
“apathy” by VIAL is out on streaming services. For more on their upcoming album and tour dates, including an LA date at El Cid on May 23, follow them on Instagram and TikTok.
VIAL burnout Tour 2024
4/6 – Minneapolis, MN @ Whole Music Club
4/12 – Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
4/13 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
4/14 – Nashville, TN @ DRKMTTR
4/16 – Atlanta, GA @ 529
4/17 – Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
4/19 – Washington, DC @ Songbyrd
4/20 – Philadelphia, PA @ Silk City
4/21 – Brooklyn, NY @ Sultan Room
4/23 – Boston, MA @ The Rockwell
4/25 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk
4/26 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison
4/27 – Detroit, MI @ Lager House
4/28 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups
5/14 – Denver, CO @ Globe Hall
5/16 – Salt Lake City @ Kilby Court
5/17 – Boise, ID @ Shrine Basement
5/18 – Seattle, WA @ Barboza
5/19 – Portland, OR @ Polaris Hall
5/21 – Oakland, CA @ 924 Gilman
5/23 – Los Angeles, CA @ El Cid
5/27 – Las Vegas, NV @ Punk Rock Bowling
