Photo credit: Von Deebo

If you’ve been following Mammoth Indigo since their inception in 2013, you’re familiar with their unique take on indie rock. The band has roots in Harrisonburg, VA, where Cody Bowers first began the project with two friends; today Mammoth Indigo delivers a more convincing sound as a quartet. Songs on their recent album, Wilt, show how they’ve embraced several different genres at once and “Undertow” might be the most diverse of the bunch. Watch the video exclusively below.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”#FF78FF” class=”fistclass” size=”15″] “’Undertow’ has some of my favorite lyrics from the record—”I will burn a hole in your head with your own cigarette” sounds like a growl line from a metal song, but in ‘Undertow’ it’s a falsetto. To me, the song sounds like a macabre, ring-leader from a circus is singing the verses. It’s playful and solemn at once. It’s a fun track and also one of the only songs on Wilt to feature an acoustic guitar—which is ironic, considering it probably has the most production.” – Cody Bowers [/perfectpullquote]

Given its refrain, the first half of “Undertow” seems like a lullaby yet it is the embodiment of defeat. Bowers’ lyrics are evocative, conjuring an ominous sea. “I’m drowning in your sun,” he sings, blinded, as the ocean magnifies the sun’s rays just below the surface. Relief comes with some destructive imagery, but better to let it out than keep it bottled up.

See Mammoth Indigo at Silverlake Lounge on September 1st; grab tickets. Buy Wilt on Bandcamp. Follow the band on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.