Post-hardcore act Yunger are set to release their new singles “Alive” and “Sinner.” The band have recently joined Negative Progression Records, and the two new singles will be released as a seven-inch. Yunger were formed in 2008, and the band quickly made a name for themselves in their local scene in Sacramento, California. We had a chance to talk to the band, and here’s what they have to share:
What inspired the emotional themes behind “Alive” and “Sinner”?
Both songs come from really personal places. “Sinner” captures the chaos, the gilt, and the temptation that comes with self-destruction and being in a toxic dynamic. It’s about feeling like you’re spiraling and dragging someone else down with you, but still craving that connection. “Alive” is more of a shift. It’s about seeing someone else going through that same darkness and wanting to pull them out of it. Together, they feel like two sides of the same coin. One is about being lost and the other is about wanting to save.
“Alive” deals with trying to save someone who’s spiraling—Was that drawn from personal experience?
Yeah it 100% is. I’ve been on both sides of that situation. I’ve watched someone I care about fall apart and felt completely helpless, and at other times, I’ve been the one people tried to save. “Alive” came from that moment of desperation where you want to shake someone awake and remind them that they’re still here and that they still matter. It’s painful but hopeful. Even when everything feels heavy, there’s still a way out.
How do you balance vulnerability and heaviness in your music?
Vulnerability has always been a part of Yunger’s music. The goal is always to create a way for the listener to connect with the message of the song and to match the heaviness to the strength of the emotions that we are sharing.
You pull from shoegaze, grunge, emo, and post-hardcore—How did that fusion come to define your sound?
All of us have a pretty diverse musical background but one of the common threads for us all were alternative bands like Incubus and post-hardcore bands like Saosin and Underoath. Those sounds were formative to all of our growth as musicians and that collection of sounds naturally made their way into our writing.
Listen to “Alive” here:
What was it like working with Nick Miller and Kris Crummett on this new release?
Working with Nick Miller was such an effortless and stimulating process for these songs. Most of us grew up in the same scene as kids, so we share that same musical background. When we showed him these songs, he immediately understood the sound that we were going for and really helped us refine it and elevate them. Kris has mastered our last few songs and has always nailed the final version that we had in our heads.
What does signing to Negative Progression Records mean for the band?
Working with Negative Progression has been such an exciting opportunity for us. Seth has a history with the Northern California scene and really understood our vision for the band. Our hope is to be able to share the music that we are passionate about with as many people as we can, and Negative Progression has been amazing and opened a lot of doors to help us do that.
How has the Sacramento scene shaped Yunger’s identity?
The Sacramento scene is such a core part of all of our musical identities. Seeing bands like Deftones and Papa Roach become international acts was insanely inspirational as kids considering how much their approach really shaped the future of alternative music. There is so much talent currently in this scene that it can’t help but to motivate you to really try and push yourself creatively.
What can fans expect from your upcoming video and 2025 tour plans?
For the video, we want to display the energy that we put into our live performances and really capture that moment in time. We are currently working on booking shows in support of the new songs and to meet as many new and old fans as we can.
If you had to sum up this seven-inch in three words, what would they be?
Emotional, raw, progressive.
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Photo courtesy of Yunger
