Population II announces new EP Serpent Échelle and unveils the single R.B.

Less than half a year since releasing their explosive sophomore album Électrons libres du québec, Population II are back with R.B., a taste of their EP Serpent Échelle, due out on April 19th, 2024 via Bonsound. Available for pre-order now, the EP will be released on a limited-edition cassette tape and on all digital platforms.

Shifting between orchestral and lysergic riffs without warning, the Montreal-based band addresses the urgency of living in the age of global doom while still enjoying life’s simple pleasures like love, friendship, and wine. Among the song’s distinctive features are guitarist and keyboardist Tristan Lacombe's farfisa, Sébastien Provençal's melodic bass line, singer-drummer Pierre-Luc Gratton's hazy, sinister vocals, as well as their friend Emmanuel Ethier's violin.

Formed in Saint-Joseph-du-Lac in the Lower Laurentians – a picturesque region of Quebec dubbed " Le pays de la pomme " by those in the know –, Population II looks back on their origins while continuing to move forward with Serpent Échelle, a new EP packed with symbolism and eccentric riffs. Serpent Échelle stands out from the trio's previous releases thanks to wilder, more adventurous sounds and a heavier atmosphere. More than ever, Population II demonstrates their skills for musical composition and a newfound commitment to songwriting, as evidenced by the songs Hélène, R.B. and Comme tu le souhaites (Ding Dong). The three-piece band continues to nurture their taste for improvisation on the instrumental track Le Serpent.