Rock n’ roll was never meant to be complicated – in fact, it was intended to be the answer to the occasional complexities and constant mundanity of everyday life, and we’re reminded as much within moments of pressing the play button on Julius Sumner Miller’s new single and music video “Leave the Key.” Where a lot of alternative rockers have been turning to surrealism for influence when trying to create something bold and fitting of this new era in music, Julius Sumner Miller is doing the opposite here, flying their flag as a puritan punk band high, and establishing themselves as one of the more aggressive acts in their scene today.
Energy means a lot in punk rock, and I think a performance like the one Julius Sumner Miller is giving in this single underscores that without having to get theatrical with their moves. There’s nothing wrong with slowing things down when you’ve got a sweet harmony to break off, but that’s not the goal in “Leave the Key” at all; exerting pressure over the sonic depth of this mix is the primary objective, and it’s something that these players definitely do not have a hard time doing.
Watch the video for “Leave the Key” below
The lyrical substance of “Leave the Key” suggests a more personal touch than one might expect from a hard-hitting punk rock band, but Julius Sumner Miller seems genuine in their portrayal of the narrative here. Without sliding into the decrepit emo territory that a lot of crossover players are at the moment, this singer is being as real with us as he can from within the four walls of a recording studio, and the throbbing beat behind him only creates a greater exclamation point beside every one of the potent statements he’s making at the forefront of this mix.
Punk rock is far from dead in 2022, and those who would ever seek to dispute as much need to hear “Leave the Key” sooner than later this year. Julius Sumner Miller presents a convincing post-hardcore sound in this single and follow-up with a raging performance in its music video that has me quite curious to see how they hold up in a live performance, and although it’s a difficult age to be in a rock n’ roll band, you would never be able to guess that just from gauging the kind of passion these players have for the medium in “Leave the Key.”
