Letterbombs have a new track out today, and it comes attached to a surprise from a band nobody on Stereogum had heard of before. The Finnish DIY crew, known for their fearsome take on metallic screamo, have dropped “I’m Not Here To Enjoy My Life” as part of a split with Camelia, a Lombardy-based Italian screamo group. The release is out now on Suspected Of Arson Records.
The Track
“I’m Not Here To Enjoy My Life” is a sunny little number from Letterbombs, and it carries the apocalyptic intensity that the band has built a reputation around. The title promises trouble, and the music delivers it. It is a brief, intense burst of the band’s signature sound, the kind of track that arrives with a sense of menace rather than comfort.
Camelia’s Debut
The real story here is Camelia. The Italian band were previously unknown to Stereogum, and their contribution to this split shows a range that goes far beyond what you might expect from a debut appearance. The duo offer two new songs, and each one takes a different path.
Their first track, “Anticipo,” is a huge, heavy attack with a hardcore breakdown. It is a loud, aggressive opener that sets a different tone from Letterbombs’ sunnier approach. The second track, “Persona,” is a six-minute epic with melodic folk flourishes and new-age recorder. That combination of folk melody and new-age recorder over a screamo framework is a bold choice, and it earns the description of “true range.”
The Split Run
This is not Letterbombs’ first split of the year. Earlier this year, they released PALLA, a split LP with Boston’s Heaven Through Violence. They followed that with a three-way split featuring Italy’s Chevalier and Austria’s the Morning Headcount, dropping a song called “God Is From Texas.” Now they are on a new split, and it pairs them with yet another new partner.
| Split | Partner | Location |
|---|---|---|
| PALLA | Heaven Through Violence | Boston |
| Three-way (“God Is From Texas”) | Chevalier | Italy |
| Three-way (“God Is From Texas”) | the Morning Headcount | Austria |
| New split | Camelia | Lombardy |
The Record Label
The split is out now on Suspected Of Arson Records.
Why This Matters
The split is notable for what it adds to both bands’ catalogues. Letterbombs continue their prolific run, dropping new material across multiple splits throughout the year. Camelia, meanwhile, step into the spotlight with a pair of songs that show they can move between heavy breakdowns and delicate folk passages without losing their footing.
“I’m Not Here To Enjoy My Life”
The split is available now, and the full three tracks can be heard together below. For fans of metallic screamo, the pairing offers a fresh perspective from a band that was previously unheralded in these parts. The range on display across Camelia’s two songs is the story here, and it is a reminder that even in a crowded genre, there is still room for surprise.
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