The Los Angeles Trio, Wallows have released a new single titled ‘Coffin Change’. It is the third track off the band's upcoming EP More releasing on March 28th via Atlantic Records. Wallows kicked off the ‘Model and More’ era back in January with ‘Your New Favourite Song’; A song with a laid-back guitar, trumpet, bogo-sounding drums, and Dylan Minnette on lead vocals. ‘Coffin Change’ strays away from the relaxed and mellow, instead drawing listeners into a world of fast-paced indie rock.
[ More EP Cover and Tracklist via @wallowsmusic on Instagram]
‘Coffin Change’ is a song that sounds very foundational for Wallows. It comes across as if they’re pulling elements from their debut album Nothing Happens and adding a new maturity to them. The base of the track relies on this clean but “jangly” electric guitar that we're introduced to right away. To accompany the guitar is a fast-paced and heavy drum beat provided by Cole Preston (who may also do backing vocals in the second verse), and a simplistic piano sound. A synth plays a role as well, being most noticeable in the second half of the track, specifically during the refrain and ending, when the other instruments briefly die out.
Braeden Lemasters takes charge of lead vocals for ‘Coffin Change’. After listening to the song, it is hard to imagine anyone else singing this song. The way Lemasters enunciates his words, especially during the chorus where he’s shouting “Up Up and Away / Heaven Doesn’t Change’, is so uniquely done that it alters the experience of the single completely. Through his vocal tones, he creates this build-up of emotion, and as the subject matter of ‘Coffin Change’ focuses on “life, death, and existentialism”, the listener can pin-point where his thought process might become overwhelming, leading Lemasters to transition from his smooth vocals to raspy shouts.
[ Coffin Change Music Video via Wallows on YouTube ]
Lemasters vocal performance in 'Coffin Change' is similar to ‘Going Under’ of their 2024 album Model. During the second verse, he slips into a similar shouting pattern, leaving the calmer vocals of the rest of the track behind. This was an element fans loved upon listening to Model for the first time, with 'Coffin Change' satiating their craving for more.
‘Going Under’ isn’t the only song ‘Coffin Change’ has been compared to though. Fans online have been calling the track a sister to ‘Treacherous Doctor’ (2019) due to their immense musical and lyrical overlap. There’s also been talk of ‘Coffin Change’ being “related” to other Wallows songs such as ‘Bad Remake’ and ‘Don't You Think It’s Strange’, but those I’ve seen less often.
All the comparisons have made me wonder when ‘Coffin Change’ was written. Since it is clear the band is drawing heavily on “older” sounds that aren’t featured as prominently on Model, I'm curious if ‘Coffin Change’ may have been one of the first songs they experimented with for the album, but was left to get scrapped from the main tracklist.
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More will be released everywhere on March 28th. If you’re looking for a physical release of the EP, you can get a hold of both a CD and Evergreen & White vinyl variant this upcoming Record Store Day on April 12th. For now, you can stream ‘Coffin Change’ and ‘Your New Favourite Song’ on all platforms.
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