Ax and the Hatchetmen embrace love, loss, and loneliness on ‘Constant Change’

Artists You Might Like: The Hails, The Happy Return, Catfish and the Bottlemen
Recommended Tracks: “7×9,” “Victim,” “Blurry Lights”

In life, there is a certain stability that we all try to reach. Whether it’s wrapping a semester of school, finishing your work for the day, or buying your first house, there is always something that gives us an idea of, ‘If I get through this, then I’ll be able to chill.’ But life doesn’t stop, so there is no chill. There’s no stability. When you complete one task, another will turn up. It’s a state of constant change, which happens to be the name of Ax and the Hatchetmen’s new EP. Here, the indie rock band gives us a small collection of random stories and moments that detail the constant change they have experienced as a band over the past few years.

The project opens up with “7×9” and “Victim,” two tracks that had not been previously released as singles. Fans could say that Ax and the Hatchetmen invented math with “7×9,” as the band has never made multiplication sound so cool. There is something fresh yet retro about the track, as lead vocalist Axel Ellis gives us calm pop vocals against the charming melodies and warm guitar lines. Meanwhile he sings, “Seven times nine is sixty-three / She’s dressed up so sexily,” and “Seven timеs eight is fifty-six / And I can’t wait to kiss your lips,” making it a fun and flirty song of the summer. But if anyone is not having a fun and flirty summer, there is “Victim.” The vibes have totally shifted on this track, as we come face-to-face with a…murderer? Throughout the song, Axel reveals his suspicions about this person with lines like, “So where did you go last night? / ‘Cause you weren’t out around here / And you said you’re all alone / I think you’re lying to me dear.” After overhearing a questionable phone conversation, seeing the cops outside, and discovering blood “on your thigh,” he is convinced that he is in danger. Will he make it out alive?

The next two tracks on the EP are the latest singles. On “Hotel Room,” Ax and the Hatchetmen make a sad situation sound sweet, which is their specialty. It captures the strain of touring, as most of the time is spent away from friends and loved ones. This is heard in lyrics like, “And I hate that you’re so far away / And I just wanna find myself in the middle of you / I’m all tied up in the middle of you.” Sometimes, the loneliness can be offset with psychedelics, but not if the trip goes bad. This is the case on “Blurry Lights,” which turns this trip into a stadium rock-like anthem. Amongst the stylish guitar riffs and cool downbeats, Axel sings, “My brain, so fried / See you in the next life / One more song, calm me down / Lift me up, wash me out,” as he tries not to get too freaked out by the lights shining down around him. Oh, and did I mention that Albert Hammond Jr from The Strokes is featured on this one?

Constant Change closes with “Stay // Honestly,” which was the first single that was released from the project. It describes a break-up, making it a mismatched bookend to the track that opens the EP. Instead of falling for someone, we hear about falling away from someone, which is always just a bit tragic. Still, the music remains fast-paced, melodic, and rhythmic, making it one of the happiest tragic songs around. Over it all, Axel sings, “So won’t you say that you can stay around for me? / ‘Cause I’m in pain from all we thought was meant to be / And I would wait patiently / For you to love me honestly.” It’s a final attempt to keep love close, but sometimes, a break is the closest form of love.

On social media, the band shared, “‘Constant Change’ is a batch of songs written at different times and in very different headspaces.” While this may be true, the songs on this project all fit together, as if intended to be on this one EP. The themes of love, loss, and loneliness unite the songs, and the never dull/never tired music is consistent from track to track. Even if the stories and memories are scattered, it is the constant evolution of stories and memories that makes life so exciting. This is what makes constant change and Constant Change so exciting as well.