In the past few months, Minneapolis punk trio VIAL has been gradually rolling out single after single to what seemed to be a new album. Alongside the release of their latest song and video, “falling short,” they’ve finally unveiled their upcoming album, burnout, out March 29 on Get Better Records. VIAL will perform at this year’s Punk Rock Bowling festival in Las Vegas.
After they made a ruckus with their debut album, 2021’s LOUDMOUTH, it was only a matter of time before they came crashing through the ceiling with their fervent punk interpretation by ways of indie rock. Based on the four of ten tracks released, burnout follows in the footsteps of singles like “Ego Death” and “Rough” for how it digs into troubling themes and finds solace amid punk chaos.
Despite the short runtime, “falling short” wastes no time ripping through thoughts of self-doubt and continues VIAL’s tradition of letting out all negative feelings in one go.
At first, Taylor Kraemer seems to sing out of desperation and a fear of falling short in someone else’s eyes. But in real-time, they realize “I don’t care anymore” on the cathartic chorus, repeatedly shouting it out in the face of anyone who doubts them. Katie Fischer’s drums and KT Branscom’s guitar form a deadly alliance, ripping into the ears of anyone within proximity and matching the same intensity as Kraemer’s vocals.
True to their DIY beginnings, the music video for “falling short” is an in-house effort, with Fischer directing and editing. Rather than capturing any specific narrative, the three find themselves playing to the moshing crowd of a basement gig. Much like the track itself, the visuals are understandably simple, letting their performance take all the focus in what’s likely an accurate recreation of their live shows.
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While there’s no word on any tour dates, they have a Las Vegas festival appearance lined up at Punk Rock Bowling from May 24 to May 27. In the meantime, it’s safe to assume burnout is an ironic title, as VIAL shows no signs of burning out or falling short of the standard they’ve set for themselves anytime soon.
Words: David Sosa
“falling short” by VIAL is out on streaming services. For more on new music and live shows, follow them on Instagram, TikTok, and their website.
