The Vernes are on a roll with new album Yr of the Rat
Philadelphia band The Vernes have done it again. Releasing an album for the third straight year in a row, Yr of the Rat was unveiled on May 17th. Their debut, self-titled album came out in 2017, and since then, they’ve been releasing music at a consistent pace.
The new album has a dreamlike sheen to it. They’ve maintained their light, graceful indie rock sound and the LP as a whole feels cool and breezy. The first track, “Roach Motel”, has a soothing and jazzy feel — almost like really great elevator music (even though that sounds like an oxymoron). “Roark” is on the heavier rock side with a catchy electric guitar riff and crescendoing cymbal crashes. The last two songs on the album, “The Yr of the Rat” and “…Is Here at Last!” were clearly written to go together. The end of the former leads directly into the beginning of the latter and the album concludes with a psychedelic outro.
The LP comes full circle as if it was created it to be listened to in order rather than on shuffle. It’s quite dynamic in its entirety. Yr of the Rat was produced by American Trappist’s Joe Michelini at Berlin Studios and is available now. Catch them live in Philly at Johnny Brenda’s on on June 29th — more info at the XPN Concert Calendar — and give “Roach Motel” a listen below.