FLATWOUNDS ANNOUNCE NEW EP CHAIN OF COMMAND, SHARE FRENZIED VIDEO FOR NEW SINGLE “EMULATOR”
PHOTO CREDIT: Will Fredette
Flatwounds are tapping into that grimy space where grunge feels restless, uncomfortable, and a little too real. The band just announced their new EP Chain of Command, out March 20 via Blue Grape Music, and they are leading the charge with their latest single “Emulator.”
“Emulator” feels raw and anxious without drifting into full hardcore territory. It is gritty, blown out, and driven by tension rather than precision. There is a strong grunge backbone here, with Flatwounds leaning into discomfort and momentum, letting things feel slightly out of control in a way that makes the song hit harder.
Lyrically, the track marks a shift for the band.“I’ve transitioned from talking about inner subjects to the exterior world,” says O'Hare. “‘Emulator’ is about not being who you actually are. You’re living life without any real meaning. There’s no substance. Instead, you’re the type of dude who works a job he doesn’t like, drives a car he doesn’t like, and complains about everything being awful. It’s because he’s not doing anything he loves.”
That frustration plays out visually in the music video, which cuts between two opposing worlds. On one side, a church scene shows a priest preaching, calm, controlled, and steeped in tradition. On the other, Flatwounds are performing live in front of a room full of rowdy fans, bodies colliding and energy spilling over the edge. The contrast is sharp and deliberate, highlighting themes of conformity versus expression, routine versus release.
That push-and-pull feels central to what Chain of Command is shaping up to be. The EP sounds like it is built around pressure and the quiet misery of falling in line, and what happens when that pressure finally starts to crack. If “Emulator” is the entry point, Flatwounds are leaning into something heavier, darker, and more confrontational in spirit.
Chain of Command arrives March 20. Turn it up and sit with the discomfort.
CHAIN OF COMMAND EP TRACK LISTING:
"Emulator"
"Separate"
"Face It"
"Inertia"