This is not our first encounter with Motihari Brigade, having covered ‘Reality Show’ back in the now far-away summer of 2023. Since then, the project has been rather silent, or better, on a hiatus. That is, until April, when American guitarist, singer, and songwriter Eric Winston returned with ‘Fortunate Son’, swiftly followed by ‘The Great Refusal’ and ‘Save Ourselves’.
We’ll be focusing on ‘The Great Refusal’ in this article, although it is crucial to notice how all tracks spark a new creative era for the project, one that will eventually result in Motihari Brigade’s new album, ‘Problematic’, expected on June 25th. For now, we are left with what’s a nostalgic rock’n’roll tune, a malleable and gritty piece drenched in electrifying guitar distortions and anthemic, fierce vocals. The listening experience is intense and timeless, with Winston slowly inviting listeners into a nuanced and complex lyrical universe, almost like entering a complex fever-dream.
For anyone keen to dive deeper into Motihari Brigade’s witty, peculiar artistry, ‘The Great Refusal’ also comes in lyric video form. As we are told, the video “ironically embraces the obvious contradiction of sending a dire warning about the threat of artificial intelligence, while using artificial intelligence.” Playfully reiterating their world-building exercise, Motihari brigade continue: “Fictional tech-oligarch Elon Oppenheimer calls The Great Refusal ‘…an encouraging cultural statement for listeners who crave the illusion that resistance is still possible.’”
Recommended! Discover ‘The Great Refusal’ now: