Q&A: Death Lens Promises Evolved Sound and Social Advocacy in “Cold World”
AMIDST CHAOS, DEATH LENS’ COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL JUSTICE AND COMMUNITY REMAINS UNSHAKABLE – Los Angeles' alt-punk band Death Lens is gearing up to release their Cold World record on May 3 via Epitaph Records. The band, comprised of Bryan Torres (vocals), Matt Silva (guitar), Jhon Reyes (guitar, backing vocals), Eduardo Contreras (bass) and Tony Rangel (drums), have been synonymous with explosive energy, unapologetic attitude and chaotic live performances. However, amidst the chaos, they've also cultivated a reputation for their unwavering work ethic, commitment to social justice and deep-rooted ties to their community.
“Cold World just seemed to fit in the days we’re living,” the band muses on the album’s title choice.“It’s the desire to thrive in a deteriorating world all while pushing those who feel like there is no hope and hoping to give them a second wind, a sense of hope.”
With a blend of slick guitar sonics and tender backing vocal harmonies reminiscent of the best parts of indie, punk and shoegaze, Death Lens crafts a sound uniquely their own. Their collaboration with NYC-based producer Brett Romnes marks a departure from their earlier styles, evolving into a matured and robust fusion of post-hardcore-tinged rock tracks.
Transitioning from their DIY roots to working with a seasoned producer was undoubtedly an adjustment for Death Lens. However, this collaboration allowed them to explore new creative territories, resulting in an album that pushes boundaries while staying true to their core identity. With reverb turned up and raw intensity dialed back just enough, Cold World showcases massive hooks and compelling songwriting across its eleven tracks, promising an exhilarating listening experience for both long-time fans and newcomers alike.
Lyrically, Cold World finds vocalist Bryan Torres reckoning with his place in the world, examining social injustices, current political and world unrest, and his emotional, mental and physical reactions to it all.
“We’re all unified in the way we think, we all believe in a fair system for all to live without struggle and with a reasonable cost of living,” Torres says. “We side strongly with socialist ideals proudly. We’re also very pro-Latino and pushing heavier to see more Hispanic bands up onstage, pro-LGBTQ+, pro-immigration and everything in between.”
As Death Lens continues to evolve and refine their sound, Cold World stands as a testament to their growth as artists and advocates. With each track, they invite listeners to navigate the complexities of the modern world while finding solace in the power of music to inspire change and foster connection.
LUNA: Thank you for sitting down and talking to Luna. Our readers would love to get to know you and your music more. For any readers who aren’t familiar yet, what inspires your artistic style and creative persona?
JHON: A lot of us have different inspirations. Recently, it’s been a lot of Turnstile, Military Gun and Spiritual Cramp.
BRYAN: I was born and raised in East Los Angeles, so the early backyard, punk music from East Los Angeles like La Fuente and SGV lives deep in my heart, so I think that’s what really inspired me to start writing. The LA natives are what drives us to write music. I never thought I’d be in a punk band. I didn’t grow up listening to punk until I got into my late 20s, so it’s pretty rewarding to be here.
JHON: The garage scene in the Bay Area is a super huge market. It’s a lot of watching friends play and inspiring each other. There’s a lot of inspiration drawn from music we’ve listened to growing up. I love The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys because that’s my guitar style.
LUNA: Say if someone hasn’t heard of your music yet, which song would you introduce your discography to and why do you gravitate towards that song?
JHON: “Bombshell” is something that has been around for us for a long time and it's our go-to song. It’s skate punk garage and straight to the point. I think that's like the perfect song to introduce someone when you listen to this.
LUNA: You are about to release your Cold World record and I love the rawness in the sound and the social commentary aspects. What is the inspiration behind the record and how did you decide on the title?
BRYAN: So we always say for anything that's bad, like we're having a bad time, we do something stupid, we're always like, ‘fuck, it's a cold world.’ We always say it and it resonates towards us. No Luck, our previous album, we started writing records for how we feel and what’s happening in the world right now. The cold world is what’s happening in Gaza and certain political movements. Earlier, I started writing party songs and those party songs were cool when I was young, but now I want to use this platform as a way to press on the subjects that are important. That’s why we call it the Cold World, because it’s the meaning of how it feels to live on this earth right now. Lyrically, I’ve been getting better. This was my way of evolving as a musician and writer.
JHON: He's definitely matured more as a vocalist. This new album is going to be so great when it comes out.
BRYAN: Like I said, I'm tired of writing stuff for the young crowd, which I love the young crowd too, but I want it to be more broad, something that just connects more in depth.
JHON: We're trying to branch out and just reach a more mature audience so everyone can listen to the new album. There's something for everybody. We’re excited about connecting with more people out there.
LUNA: What did the creative process for Cold World look like?
BRYAN: It’s a lot easier than the last record, but it was a bit of a headache just because it was our first time working with a producer. I’m Salvadorian and hard headed as hell. If you put me and another hard headed guy into a room, there’s a lot of butting heads. Us working together has brought the sound together and he would tell me to trust the process.
JHON: Brett Romnes, our producer, is such a talented guy. He had a vision for the album that we didn't even see. We became best friends the moment we met him.
BRYAN: He truly taught us how to properly put a song together, like before that we're doing everything DIY, but he was the one who led us in the right direction. He definitely opened up a whole new world for us as far as writing. I think that's our new tactic now. He was like our teacher, and that's why the new stuff is so different from the last record, because I think we just got more intricate. We got more creative. We picked up different instruments. For this one, we use rainmakers, we use tambourines. We used the piano. We had Jhon play piano. It was fun all around. It was a great experience.
JHON: It was all constructive, so he's like the sixth member of Death Lens. He's a genius. He's not trying to dictate, he's trying to inspire.
LUNA: Have you experimented or taken more creative risks, either lyrically, sonically or emotionally with this release compared to your last album No Luck?
BRYAN: I stopped caring what people think for a long time. I cared a lot about what people thought of me before. I just started writing for myself. I think that helps a lot, because for the longest time, I was pretty nervous about what people were going to say about us. No Luck was the first time we were like, fuck everybody else, let's do it for ourselves, and at the same time, let's do it for them too. We did it for ourselves. That's the main reason and I think Cold World was very similar. I think at this peak in our lives as a band, we're just trying to do what's best for us.
JHON: The day one fans that have been there from the beginning, just trying to make them all proud and showing that hard work pays off.
LUNA: What is your favorite song from Cold World and why do you love it? Is there a certain lyric or message that stands out to you the most?
BRYAN: “Lo Que Será” and the reason why is because my manager wanted me to write a love song. Honestly, I don’t fucking like love songs because I’m going to hate it one day when things look bad. I don’t like to remember things that bring negative thoughts to my mind. If you hear the song, it sounds like a love song, but at the very end, the chorus I made is an anti-love song.
JHON: Mine would be “Memory Hotline” because it’s a catchy banger.
LUNA: What was the hardest song for you to write, either lyrically, sonically or emotionally?
JHON: “Fucked Up” was the hardest one to write because we came in with a completely different song on the album and Brett worked his magic and moved some things around. We had to restructure the entire song. That was the hardest with its intricate guitar lines and singing a lot of harmonies in it.
BRYAN: We wrote that brand new in the studio in a couple of hours, which was kind of a pain in the ass, but I fucking love that it’s such a great intro song.
LUNA: What can listeners expect from you in this new era of music?
BRYAN: An angrier me. I hate getting old. I feel like this grouchy man, so the more I write, the angrier it sounds for some reason. But at the same time, I think it’s funny because the music doesn’t sound as angry.
JHON: I’d say the fans should expect a more mature sound from us and we’re going to have fun at all our shows, but we’re trying to put on a memorable show for people. It’s no longer a show, but a performance.
LUNA: How are you feeling in this current era of your career and what does the next year look like that you would like to share with Luna ?
JHON: It’s really intimidating with all the support we’ve been getting Epitaph Records. We love Epitaph so much for everything they’ve done for us. We’ve been taken care of so well, so right now we feel like their baby, supporting bands we never thought we’d support.
BRYAN: I think that’s the most intimidating part because we get homesick on the road, but it’s also fun because having your boys is like a second family. This is the perfect time to give all that we’ve got.
JHON: We love everybody that’s there for us and we’ll see everyone soon.
