Simple yet beautiful, Tigers Jaw’s new song, “Distress Signal,” is a melodic masterpiece. The style of this powerfully raw indie group from Scranton, Pennsylvania is fostered by their brutally honest lyrics and heavy guitar tones. Their melody on this track derives from the guitars wailing tones and keyboardist Brianna Collins with her sparkling clean vocals. Ben Walsh and his aggressively off-key voice serves well on this song as the static to the instruments while Collins paints the chorus with her high-octave vocals. It’s a combination that melds well together.

The guitars give the song an anxious rhythm starting from the intro. The bends and hammer-on’s throughout the track only exacerbate the uneasy tone of the song. The tension releases at the chorus when guitars take on a bouncy melody. Walsh and Collins share the chorus and occasional lines in the verse to add emphasis to the lyrics. At the bridge, Walsh and Collins take turns singing off one another. While one finishes a line, the other starts another in a melodic overlap. The songs benefits from the duel vocals because of their pleasant melodies. Adam McIlwee is very picky on his lead melodies throughout the song. Aside from the faint riffs at the intro and the chorus, he experiments with a chilling solo toward the bridge. His melodies sound like something from a 1920’s horror film. But as eerie as the tones are, it works well with the lyrics. There is an unsettling feeling that comes from listening to this song. With lines like, “We’re all lying in wait. // To redeem ourselves, to redeem our name,” and “You ought to be more tactful. // Face your attacker.” They even mention how where they grew up made them feel apathetic towards life. The song’s cryptic message is masked in Walsh’s emotional moan and Collins’ beautiful cry.

The song’s passionate sound bursts at the seams. Even the percussion shakers carry weight in this song. The intricacies of “Distress Signal,” with strong rhythm and fanatical melody couldn’t have been written any better. “Distress Signal” can be found on Run For Cover Records’ Mixed Signals compilation CD out September 6. The collection features material from bands like Balance and Composure, Polar Bear Club, and more.

★★★☆

*This review was composed by Jose Terrero