Wenzhou, China-based alt/grunge rock duo FUCK YOUR BIRTHDAY presents BBQd, a succinct and lively EP that packs a plethora of hook-snagged grungy rock into the three new songs.

Vocalist/guitarist Christopher Henry elaborates, “In recent years, a meme spread around China in which a man autotune-croons, ‘完啦, Barbecue啦’ over clips of fails or awkward situations. It basically means, ‘oh shit, I’m cooked.’ With that sentiment in mind, we’ve imagined a character that lives in that kind of world and ties these three songs together. He always seems to get himself stuck in rocky hard places. He succumbs to alcoholism on ‘Moonshine’ as he isolates himself outside of an unspecified rural Appalachian town. Then he finds himself in an awkward situation trying to reconcile his strict notions of masculinity with a kiss between buddies on ‘Propane Accessories.’ This leads to an overcompensation in violent crime that lands our protagonist in prison. ‘Repeat Offender’ is the final (yet not so final) act of this vicious circle. In a world where mass-shootings, police-brutality, and bigotry in our culture becomes motif rather than outlier, we are all BBQd.”

The band filmed a video for “Repeat Offender,” about which Henry writes, “One might associate motif with highly respected art, but who’s to say that it can’t be used to describe depravity? This short ditty aims to hold a mirror up to horrors of the world that have become motif in modern times. Musically, it pulls inspiration from nu metal, boom-bap, and noise rock. It’s extremely fun to play live, even if it leaves audiences stunned by its brevity.”

BBQd was recorded by the band in Wenzhou, mixed by David Klug, mastered by Bill Henderson at Azimuth Mastering, and completed with photography by XiaTieNiu. Fans of Dinosaur Jr., Fugazi, Sonic Youth, Death From Above 1979, Royal Blood, Tera Melos, Whores., Primus, Refused, and Chevelle should definitely check out FUCK YOUR BIRTHDAY.