SONG PREMIERE: THE KOMINAS

Photo by Eva Wo

When the going gets tough, the tough draw a line — and not always by choice.

That’s the case for The Kominas. As a Desi American punk rock act, the Boston band find themselves victim to discrimination on the regular, but they’re armed with inherently politically-charged music to refute it. They’re American, they’re brown, and they’re continually mislabelled. But beyond that, they’re continually misunderstood in that they’re rarely given the chance to be understood in the first place. A decade into their career, the band has learned how to push back because they must. Now, vocalist-guitarist-drummer Sunny Ali, bassist-vocalist Basim Usmani, guitarist Shahjehan Khan, and drummer-guitarist Karna Ray are putting a halt to that toxicity on “No Fun.”

In under two minutes, the band take a turn towards the pessimistic on“No Fun.” In place of the sunny vibes of 2016 LP Stereotype, The Kominas channel aggressive, no-fucks-given art rock that teeters on the brink of insanity — a fitting taste to their upcoming album. The single’s cover features a photo of Basim Usmani back in 1990, four months after he plummeted 20 feet head-first onto concrete, breaking his skull. Thankfully, it helped him grow up with a tough skin and embrace what it means to be damaged. According to the band, they all had to when they were younger. That’s why it offers “a glimpse into the four crooked heads that created it.” We’re thrilled to premiere the song below.

Sonically, “No Fun.” signals growth for The Kominas. A spacious intro straddles the line between eerie and trippy while Ali sings about having so much fun. Suddenly, a huge wall of guitar crashed in while they refute those very claims. Produced and recorded by Marco Buccelli, best known for his work with Xenia Rubinos, the single has a fuzzed-up tone that the band’s new Bauhausian art rock style melds with seamlessly. So when the lyrics kick into overdrive—”It’s not fun anymore when you’re being hunted for sport / And a man knocks down your door / It’s not fun for the kids / And not good for the community”—it feels twice as impactful thanks to the music jolting it forward.

<a href="http://kominas.bandcamp.com/track/no-fun">No Fun by The Kominas</a>

That doesn’t mean the single is without its cheekiness. In its final, heaving moment, Ali clarifies just how tiresome the whole affair is by tacking on, “Even the fucking dog isn’t having any fun.” It highlights their strengths and humor all at once. Don’t be surprised if it gets stuck in your head on first listen. Head over to the band’s Bandcamp to purchase a digital download.

The Kominas are also headed out on tour with Sinkane, who we interviewed earlier this year. The seven-date tour brings them to Washington DC, Brooklyn, Hamden, Portland, Montreal, Toronto, and Chicago. Find the tour poster below.