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Volcano Choir Frolic Through Snowy Woods in ‘Comrade’ Video

Volcano Choir Justin Vernon Comrade video repave

Justin Vernon’s fascination with distorting his vocals kicked off famously on the Bon Iver EP track “Woods” but has defined this method as a part of Volcano Choir, as well as his role as Kanye West’s non-Kim muse. On “Comrade,” the second single off of Volcano Choir’s upcoming sophomore album Repave, the band once again presses Vernon’s vocals into processed bursts and moans, after lead single “Byegone” took a more straight-ahead approach to rustically anthemic indie rock. The result is a resounding success, pushing what could pass for a Bon Iver track into territory that resembles early Band of Horses. And unlike their “Byegone” video, there’s more going on here than just a tree with a bunch of lights in it.

Repave is out September 3 on Jagjaguwar, and the “Comrade” lyrics are below, because chances are you won’t be able to understand a lot of them.

like i didn’t know it
choking on the pulp of it
semper fi
you kept me on your long line
tugging in the whole time
keep shining on

and that silent head grip…
can’t do it no more

the honey bin
the bunny’s in
is telling you there’s a countdown
oh, damn your eyes

had that one a long time

sorting out the long pipe
hoping that the copper fits
make sure you stay oblivious

said that we could go back
said that we could go find
terra forming!
said that you were coke blind
drinking in dramnesic
tore out at the comrade

that’s a comrade, making a comrade offer

that Ticonderoga’s shit
made my mind and my heart all split up over
the floor of the jackpot
there’s a floor to the jackpot
where’do you rise???

you don’t even lie to me no more

‘ey say you ain’t a comrade
still, i’d know you’d come back
for a folly-ridden Romeo, you break down a fortress NOW
standing out in public
stained with your conscience

i know that you love me
you are just lawless, son

give it another fortnight
eye to eye the culprit
just rid the fucking pulpit
i ain’t giving you another full ride
underneath the combine
said it didn’t bump you right
habitual falling right?