Illiterate Light – “Heaven Bends” (Video)

Harrisonburg, Virginia two-piece Illiterate Light released a new single, “Heaven Bends,” on Friday, paired with a video created by Charleston’s Persona La Ave. With the release, the duo also announced that their upcoming album Sunburned will drop on January 27, 2023.

“Heaven Bends” feels airy initially in terms of its instrumentation and vocal intensity, but the lightness is balanced by lyrics that express a degree of existential panic: “Let me down / Let me out / Holy rollercoaster / Up and down / Freaking out / Is anybody sober / Wish that I could make it stop / Haven’t my eyes seen enough.”

Steady guitar strokes are framed by sturdy drumming and accented with a deep bass line. In the last third of the song in particular, the duo employs their characteristic ability to create a big, layered sound, picking up the intensity of the drums, guitar, and vocals and calling to mind the frenetic energy of their live shows. 

The visualizer created by Persona La Ave helps create a complete sensory experience, his signature retro-inspired graphics punctuating the introspective nature of the song.

You can catch Illiterate Light live in Charleston at the Pour House this Thursday. In the meantime, stream “Heaven Bends” below.