PRESS RELEASE:
BOX
Born To Crawl
Miserable Pyre
24 December 2024
BOX invites listeners into a wintery dreamscape of raw emotion, sonic experimentation, and hauntingly beautiful storytelling with their new EP, Born To Crawl. Scheduled for release on December 24th via Miserable Pyre, this collection reflects the artistic depth and genre-defying ambition of multi-instrumentalist Andrew Stromstad (also of I AM THE INTIMIDATOR, POISON IDEA, ATRIARCH). Each track is a journey through dreams, nightmares, and memories, blending minimalist arrangements with lush instrumentation to evoke a visceral listening experience.
The EP opens with its namesake, “Born To Crawl,” a piece that refuses to mask its vulnerability. The track is stripped bare: one guitar, no overdubs, a simple arrangement that lets the pain in its lyrics breathe freely. Written in the middle of a cold, wet night, the song captures the paralysis of heartbreak—the indulgence in grief that feels almost intoxicating before the stark realization of its futility. Stromstad’s lyrics—etched with the memory of a friend lost in the 2011 Tohoku tsunami—linger like fog, merging personal tragedy with a broader sense of human fragility. The song’s minimalist approach and raw vocal delivery create an emotional landscape that feels as unrelenting as the weather that inspired it.
From there, Born To Crawl plunges into “Exposed,” a track as dynamic as a nightmare in flux. Originally conceived as a Thin Lizzy-inspired anthem, it evolved into a towering, gothic noise-rock piece over the course of three years. The shifting tones mimic the unsettling rhythm of a dream slipping into a nightmare and back again. The crescendo, drenched in manipulated sounds sourced from PETA commercials, is both grotesque and captivating, highlighting the unfiltered horrors of the subconscious. Stromstad channels the spirit of THE TEMPTATIONS in his layered vocals, turning abstract and impressionistic lyrics into a haunting kaleidoscope of imagery.
“Ayla,” the third track, continues the EP’s descent into surrealism. It begins with a sound that evokes a somber middle school orchestra—stiff, awkward, but deeply sincere. From this unassuming start, the song blossoms into a cinematic blend of orchestral horns, classic R&B-inspired rhythms, and vocal harmonies that feel like a conversation between ghosts. Named after a recurring figure in Stromstad’s dreams, Ayla serves as a guide through the surreal and the sacred. The track moves through spaces that feel ancient yet timeless, conjuring images of endless Greek columns, a cold breath in a darkened hall, and the inexplicable warmth of an unseen presence. It’s a song of contrasts, a quiet triumph wrapped in spectral melancholy.
The EP closes with “Taku,” a track as deeply rooted in memory as it is in experimentation. Its sparse opening, reminiscent of modern jazz influences, gives way to Laibach-esque orchestral crescendos and psychedelic guitar leads. Stromstad describes the piece as a meditation on decay, both literal and emotional. Inspired by childhood winters spent near Alaska’s Taku Lake, “Rotting” feels like staring into the frozen black sky while surrounded by swaying pine trees—a haunting stillness that’s as beautiful as it is lonely. The song’s middle section, driven by horns, evokes the surreal comfort of those frozen moments, weaving childhood nostalgia with a sense of timeless foreboding.
Throughout Born To Crawl, Stromstad balances simplicity with ambition, using the constraints of minimal instrumentation to craft something vast and immersive. The EP’s brief runtime—just under 18 minutes—feels deliberate, like a fleeting vision that disappears the moment you try to hold onto it. It’s a body of work that speaks to Stromstad’s restless creativity and willingness to push the boundaries of genre, blending elements of gothic rock, classic R&B, orchestral arrangements, and minimalist songwriting into something distinctly his own.
As the EP’s release approaches, Stromstad reflects on its creation as a synthesis of past and present. The first track, written just this year, stands in stark contrast to the intricate arrangements of songs like “Ayla” and “Rotting,” which were crafted over the course of nearly a decade. This interplay of simplicity and complexity, of fresh wounds and healed scars, is what gives Born To Crawl its striking emotional depth.
For listeners, BOX’s Born To Crawl offers more than just music—it’s an invitation to explore the landscapes of grief, memory, and dreams. It’s for anyone who has ever found beauty in the cold, solace in solitude, or meaning in the fleeting fragments of a dream.
About BOX:
BOX is the brainchild of Andrew Stromstad, a multifaceted musician whose work defies easy categorization. Blurring the lines between minimalist songwriting, gothic noise, orchestral flourishes, and experimental jazz, BOX creates music that feels both intimate and expansive—a sonic exploration of memory, emotion, and the surreal. Based on deeply personal experiences and vivid dreamscapes, each BOX release is a reflection of Stromstad’s restless creativity and unique artistic vision.
Known for his ability to weave haunting narratives into intricate soundscapes, Stromstad handles every element of the music himself, from instrumentation and production to mixing and mastering. Drawing inspiration from a diverse array of influences, BOX balances stark vulnerability with lush, cinematic textures. It’s music that invites listeners to confront the unknown and immerse themselves in the beauty and strangeness of the human experience.
With a reputation for genre-defying ambition and a deeply introspective approach to songwriting, BOX has become a project that resonates with those seeking music that pushes boundaries and connects on a visceral level.
Recording Lineup:
Andrew Stromstad – Vocals, Bass, Guitar, Drums, Synths, Trumpet/French Horn/Trombone, Auxiliary Percussion
EP Credits:
Producer: Andrew Stromstad
Recording Studio: Miserable Pyre
Engineer: Andrew Stromstad
Mixing: Andrew Stromstad
Mastering: Andrew Stromstad
EP Cover Artist: Andrew Stromstad
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