Rope new album ‘Higher Violence’

Rope is a band based in Berlin, centered around singer-guitarist Kai Woolen-Lewis. A band that continually defies categorization, they draw from a range of influences – doomy post-hardcore, atmospheric slowcore, and 70s classic-rock psychedelia, to name but a few – with a lyrical heft that sets them apart.

Formed in the UK, but now spread throughout Europe, the band converged on Berlin to write and record ‘Higher Violence’. Recording live at Impression Studios, the addition of guitarist Ben Lubin and drummer Petter Nygårdh alongside founding member Woolen-Lewis and guitarist Luke Davies has allowed for broader sonic experimentation and the realization of a ‘higher’ sound.

‘Higher Violence’ is a translation of the German term ‘Höhere Gewalt’ – a force of nature that couldn’t have been foreseen or prevented. Forged through a series of challenging events, this constellation of the band have come together to craft an album of power and catharsis. Lost members, recovery from addiction and endless delays to the recording due to an unprecedented global catastrophe have informed what is the most realized and resolute record of their career so far.

Higher Violence sees the band return to the intensity and precision of their previous two albums (2018’s Come Closer Now and 2015’s Manteision Bodolaeth) with a vastly expanded palette of atmospheres and influences. The album retains much of the weight and blunt force of Rope’s previous records – musically and lyrically. Woolen-Lewis’s lyrics remain at the forefront of this new collection of songs, exposing a depth of feeling and insight into topics such as the difficulties of friendship, love and loss, as well as the amoral state of late-capitalist society

Woolen-Lewis says, “The majority of these songs were written in their simplest form over the course of the pandemic, but they really took shape when we were able to get together in Berlin to flesh them out into the songs they became. For me, the true power in the record came from being together, enjoying each other’s company and playing music again, after such a long time apart and isolated. It was an amazing experience, and we’re really pleased with what came out.”

Higher Violence is due to be released on 3rd August through Beth Shalom Records. You can pre-order the album on Vinyl and Cassette through Bandcamp, and stream the lead single, Neon Glow, now on all major streaming platforms