Rozu is a Post Hardcore band straight out of Denver, Colorado. The band consists of Tim Graham (vocals), David Sundine (guitar), Henry Navarre (bass) and Brian Robertson (drums). They are anticipating releasing their debut EP later this year, and have released two singles thus far. These two singles are bangers! Drawing influences from bands like Underoath, Taking Back Sunday, Chiodos and Saosin, Rozu is a hard-hitting, kick ass, and is destined for amazing things!
I was fortunate enough to gain some insight on the band from vocalist Tim Graham. When asked what inspired the guys, Tim said “for me personally, I always needed music for just about everything I did from a very early age. I was just always listening to music and then around 8th grade I started listening to bands like Underoath and The Used. I remember going to see Underoath on the Taste of Chaos tour and I just remember seeing Spencer just going absolutely insane on stage and that raw emotion really put it in my head that I wanted to be a vocalist”. I love this quote because I can absolutely relate to it. Music has been my obsession from a young age, so it’s nice to see I’m not the only one. Every time I go to a show, I am always captivated by the energy and emotion the band displays on stage. If I had any vocal talent, I’d be up on stage screaming until my lungs collapsed!
Tim continued, “Lyrically, we write music about our own life experiences that we have gone or currently going through and really trying to find the light in the situation. The only thing that we can control in this world is our perception on situations and how we are going to handle them. We’ve all gone through similar things being human, so we just want other people to know that things will get better.” This is what music is all about! Not writing random, nonsense lyrics to catchy instrumentals, but letting your true, raw emotions out on a song which shows that even musicians are human like the rest of us! From this quote, Rozu creates music for the listeners that they are able to relate to, something they can bond with and what could potentially help them with whatever they are going through!
Rozu has released two songs so far, Dissolve and Faceless. Both releases are solid tracks! These songs are so good that they have made me so hyped for the release of their debut EP. Dissolve immediately comes in with the heavy, dark guitar and bass chords that you feel in your bones! Shortly after, the faint vocals of Tim Graham come in and lead into the heavy screaming vocals; “this is the reality of a life lost by your own two hands. Lazy, you thought that you built an empire, stubborn by riding on my coattails. Unwilling, you lazy piece of shit you can’t get nothing alone. You won’t be nothing when you are all alone!” The other part I have to mention is the killer breakdown. I can’t wait until these guys play a show in NY so I can catch it in action! I can see the crowd going insane now!
Faceless is the other song released by Rozu. I love the Hardcore style on this one. It is a fast paced song that encompasses screaming vocals that any Post Hardcore fan will love. In addition to the brutal instrumentals that will have every person in the crowd bouncing along, the emotional lyrics will resonate so much with listeners. “I find myself waking up on the floor every morning, to the glimpse of a stranger walking out the door. I don’t know how I feel anymore, I’m a mess, I’m a train wreck! All these late nights, all these late fights, I can’t do this anymore. It’s killing me inside, it’s eating me alive, I can’t do this anymore!”
Tim told me that “we are sitting on a lot of material just waiting to be released. We just want to keep creating art with each other. Whatever comes with it will be a blessing and we are planning some runs of shows right now, but we just want to keep this vibe and grind for as long as possible.” I love this quote so much. Sure, just like any band would, Rozu would welcome fame and stardom, but until that day comes, they are perfectly happy with the progress they’ve made and are still having fun. A lot of times, that’s a lot more important than the recognition!
Even with the release of only two songs, Rozu is currently one of my favorite Post Hardcore bands. I love the vibe they come with, the raw emotion of their lyrics, and the obvious fun they are having while on this crazy ride! Rozu is about to shoot some videos for a few upcoming releases, so make sure you check back for any additional info! For now, follow their social media and check out Dissolve and Faceless on the blog’s Spotify playlist: After Hours Review!