I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Dead Poet Society front man, Jack Underkofler in regard to their latest album release, “Fission.” This is the band’s sophomore release to 2021’s -!-, and marks not only the band’s second full-length but their second release with Spinefarm Records.
After a decade defining, redefining, and perfecting their art, FISSION finds Dead Poet Society poised to be rock’s next breakout act. The album is a 13-track study of personal change and the turbulence of growth that, as front man Jack Underkofler attests, takes “a microscopic and broad look at the events that changed who we are.”
Further elaborating on the concept, he says, “In a lot of ways this album is about unpacking those emotional pains that come with being an adult,” Underkofler says. “The past few years have left me in a constant state of growth through the life events of which I’ve had little control, or which didn’t pan out the way I wanted them to. There’s a ‘before’ you, and an ‘after’ you, and there’s no going back. Life tends to force your hand, and it’s futile to fight it. You have to accept that things that happen to you will change you, and let them build you into the next phase of who you are. There is a constant battle to not mourn who I was, because the things you go through define you as a person and turn you into a person worth being. But that can be difficult to wrestle with. There is a positive to it, but it is birthed through a lot of pain.”
While the lyrics are fully relatable, the music is a DNA-distinct blend of anthemic alternative, dark and moody hard rock, and progressive indie.
Dead Poet Society accumulated over 72 million global streams, with nearly 32 million streams in the U.S. alone. The band has also enjoyed two Top 15 singles at radio and key playlisting. They have spent as much time as possible on the road — having toured with alt rock powerhouses like Badflower, Biffy Clyro, Highly Suspect, and BRKN Love – and has ultimately established itself as an intense live act not to be missed.
You can check out my conversation with Jack on our Instagram and Facebook pages!
FISSION is available now wherever you stream your music