Gash Unveil New Single/Video, "risking heaven," From New Album Out 9/25 via Angel Tapes/Fire Talk
It is officially “gash summer” (Volume One). Last month, the Eau Claire quintet announced at least you know what you’re laughing at, their label debut out September 25th via Angel Tapes / Fire Talk, to a slew of praise from The Line of Best Fit, Our Culture, No Expectations, Beats Per Minute and more. Today, gash return to unveil their new single/video, “risking heaven,” following the wrap of their headline tour and recent performance at Bon Iver’s Eaux Claires Festival.
“risking heaven” is once tender and brooding, beginning with bandleader Logan Nyberg’s infectious guitar loop and lyrics that explore karmic retribution. Synths whirr as Nyberg sets the scene: “And on my bike at night // I’m risking heaven for you.” gash exists in these emotionally liminal spaces, reflecting on trauma and allowing the space for rage to inevitably percolate. at least you know what you’re laughing at is both personal and guarded — a collage of confessions which offer intimacy at arm’s length.
“risking heaven” is presented alongside a self-directed video helmed by Nyberg. Collaging footage of the band’s scenic hometown alongside eerie shots of thriftstore knick knacks, the “risking heaven” video is a peek into gash’s singular vision.
Watch gash's "risking heaven" Video
gash began as an outlet for Nyberg (guitar/vocals/production), his Wisconsin homecoming following a brief stint in California. Alongside longtime friends Mitchell Smuhl (guitar) and Eric Simmons (drums), gash formed in the late 2010s against the grain of midwest impulses toward acoustic sentimentalism. Instead, gash opt to explore the emotions formed across sweaty basement shows. Through countless performances — often at Nyberg’s own home DIY venue — gash garnered a reputation for cathartic underground sets, and gathered a crew of appreciators turned bandmates along the way. “I was like ‘Damn, you brought all these crazy people here?! Shit..,” Breckelle Bathke (vocals/guitar/percussion) jokes of her time as a gash fan, through which she developed her relationship with the band by volunteering her talents as a visual artist for gash cover artwork and fliers. Bathke joined gash properly in 2025, following years recording band vocals on the low. Completing the gash band is Ricky Christensen (bass/keys), who joined in 2020 through similar fashion: attending and playing gigs at Nyberg’s house.
at least you know what you’re laughing at presents the most holistic version of gash, following years of sporadic releases that act as compilations of the band’s loose artifacts. Unlike those predecessors, at least you know what you’re laughing at began mainly as digital compositions, a stumbled-upon sample giving way to a guitar lick then uploaded to Google Drive and mulled over by the entire band. Workshopped following a 2025 self-booked tour, gash’s first outing in their current formation, at least you know what you’re laughing at is marked by a newfound ease that emanates through each track. Anchored by Nyberg’s honed confidence as a producer, as well as the years spent as friends and loose collaborators in the Eau Claire scene, at least you know what you’re laughing at commands its space with unflinching precision. The result is a real-time snapshot at “the new gash,” straddling digital textures and noise-rock impulses from post-hardcore howls to tender indie twinkles.
For gash, the immutable reactions to parsing through pain over time is essential, and the band situates the album among environments in which listeners have the space to sit with their thoughts. A solo camping trip, a drive along the Chippewa River, a bike ride as the seasons change. “Nature is fire, it’s kind of giving rebirth for me, it’s like...” Bathke trails as Nyberg completes: “It’s like change.”
Read more
All articles →
