San Diego rock band, benches unveil their new EP, Kill The Lights—a bold sonic step forward that pushes the boundaries of their sound and introspection. From the start, the band approached this project as an opportunity to evolve—not just to challenge their audience, but to challenge themselves. Across six tracks, the four-piece navigates the murkier waters of mental health, confronting the often-unspoken: fear, overthinking, isolation, and emotional detachment. Kill The Lightssearches restlessly for light in the dark. Whether or not it ever fully arrives, a thread of hope persists—fragile, but present. Now streaming everywhere.
The EP opens with “Departure,” a short, swelling instrumental that sets the emotional tone. The band uses production here to introduce sonic motifs that echo throughout the record—mysterious and haunting, the track stirs a sense of anticipation and unease.
Things shift into high gear on track two, “Naive,” without losing the brooding atmosphere. “‘Naive’ was one of the first songs we wrote together,” says vocalist Anson Kelley. “You can hear that energy in the recording—it feels alive, like we’re all in the room. It came together in a day and really shaped the direction of the EP.”
As the record unfolds, benches wrestle with themes of distrust, dread, and the endless pursuit of perfection. “Orchid” captures this tension with precision. “At first it was undercooked, then overcooked,” Kelley explains. “Eventually, it landed in this sweet spot. The lyrics are stuck in a loop, chasing a different answer that’s always been right in front of you. Perfection is a trap—you usually just end up lost.”
The EP closes with “Here Come The Bitter Tears,” a track the band likens to the moment the credits roll after a devastating film. It’s cinematic and emotionally layered, playing with opposites—passionate but cold, intimate yet distant. It ends the record with a yearning for connection, while still clinging to a sense of emotional withdrawal.
After recently wrapping up a tour supporting Inhaler and playing their hometown Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival, benches continue along their headline tour this week. They will be supported by Pleasure Pill across the Western US, in advance of an appearance at Lollapalooza later in the summer.
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
May 28 – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
May 29 – Polaris Hall – Portland, OR
May 31 – Barboza – Seattle, WA
June 1 – Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC
June 4 – Kilby Court – Salt Lake City, UT
June 5 – Lost Lake – Denver, CO
June 7 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
June 8 – Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ
June 10 – Constellation Room – Costa Mesa, CA
June 11 – Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA
June 12 – Music Box – San Diego, CA
July 31 – August 3 – Lollapalooza – Chicago, IL
