St. John’s alternative rock / post-hardcore project Yes, Officer have released another new single. Following the release of the 2020 record Autobiography of a Naysayer, the new single, “Pace Yourself”, was released on June 10th, 2022, and is available on Bandcamp, YouTube and streaming services.
You can listen to “Pace Yourself” via our YouTube embed below.
~ Akhenaten
St. John’s post hardcore band Yes, Officer are all set to debut a new single, the project’s first new music since 2020’s Autobiography of a Naysayer. The new single, entitled “Pace Yourself”, was announced on May 16th, 2022 through the band’s social media accounts, with a short 15 second teaser accompanying the post. “Pace Yourself” will drop on June 10th, 2022.
You can check out the teaser through our Instagram embed below.
~ Akhenaten
St. John’s post hardcore and alternative rock outfit Yes, Officer have so far released three full length records, their most recent being 2020’s Autobiography of a Naysayer. It’s been a few years since we’ve gotten any new material from the band, however it seems as though that is about to not be the case.
On April 8th, 2022 the band uploaded a brief 15 second teaser of a new song to their Facebook page. Whether that means the group is working on a new full length album, a new EP, or a new single remains to be seen. We couldn’t embed the video so follow the link: here! to give the teaser a listen.
~ Akhenaten
Post hardcore / alternative rock outfit Yes, Officer are the latest heavy / alternative music group to be featured in The Newfoundland Herald thanks to the efforts of writer Dillon Collins. The interview involves band creative lead Jeremy Harnum discussing the story and thought process behind some of the songs from the band’s latest record, Autobiography of a Naysayer. You can read part of the interview in the pictures above, or you can pick up the latest edition of The Newfoundland Herald in person or online.
~ Akhenaten
First off, tell the people who we’re talking to!
My name is Jeremy Harnum and I am the guitarist/vocalist for the band Yes, Officer.
Can you tell us a bit about how Yes, Officer got started? What was your goal in forming a one-man band?
Yes, Officer came from a necessity to create music. In 2011, I played drums in a duo called The Glendas, but we had to disband in 2014. That’s the same year I moved out of the city back to my hometown to work. After three years without playing music, I had culminated a collection of riffs and ideas. I had also become frustrated with trying to find people to write with, especially those that wanted to make the kind of music that I also wanted to. By 2017, I had gathered a small number of microphones and some recording equipment. I figured I was decent enough at playing all the instruments necessary, so I decided to make an attempt at recording some material myself. I was simultaneously teaching myself to write music and record/produce and fell in love with the process. It’s been a passion project ever since. I think that was my goal; escapism into a passion project. I have total creative freedom to do whatever I want, and I find that liberating.
Yes, Officer is certainly a unique and memorable name. Can you tell us how you came up with it?
The name sort of popped in my head on a total whim, honestly. I had written and recorded a couple of songs but had no idea for a band name. On a personal note, the project started during a fundamentally transitional period of my life. I felt like the name embodied the idea of the dissatisfaction with obeying “the law”, whatever that law may be. For me, it was societal standards that were imposed on me regarding what it meant to be a man and how I should be acting and presenting myself. Like bowing down to that authority and falling in line, but begrudgingly. I came out as gay just four days after the release of my first album, Because There is No Other Way, and finally began living my life for me. The name Yes, Officer comes from that idea; that desire to do what you wish but still being held back by the fear of disappointing and disturbing others. In that mindset, you just stay put. I didn’t want to stay put any longer, so I figured using this name was a great way to reclaim the mentality I felt during this recording process and that time of my life.
Why did you decide to record your first two records, Because There is No Other Way and Lessons from a Snake Oil Salesman, by yourself?
It was a challenge. I just wanted to see if I could do it. I had all these ideas floating around my head and I was sick of waiting on other people’s schedules. I could never get a chance to meet up with friends to write and record, so I just said, “screw it!” and went after it myself. I also use the recording process as time to write my music. I write and record during the same sessions, which is a little haphazard, but it works for me as a one-person operation.
Once I finished Because There is No Other Way, I started to learn more about the recording process and what I should be doing differently to make the material sound better. I think Lessons from a Snake Oil Salesman came leaps and bounds ahead of the first record production-wise. I do not claim to be a music producer by any means, but I am proud of what I did as a self-taught musician with zero budget. I like the process and the proverbial puzzle that you have to solve as you work through writing and recording. Because… took me about three months to write and record and Lessons… took just under ten days for the RPM Challenge. It was a grind right to the end.
Why did you decide to round out the band with a full lineup after the second album?
By 2019, I had been moved back to the city for a year and spent my time with friends at shows around the city. I knew I wanted to get back in the saddle, but I had never played guitar in a band before as I’ve always been the drummer and the furthest thing from a frontman. I remember being at a Geinus show and saying, “I want a drummer like THAT for my band”, and sure enough, I was lucky enough to recruit Alex through a mutual friend. He’s an absolutely phenomenal drummer that takes my ideas and runs with them. I couldn’t ask for any better. I was also lucky to meet Nick through another mutual friend as we’ve been running in similar musical circles for years but had never really met. He’s an incredibly talented guy with so much musical prowess. He was a natural fit and rounded out the sound that I needed. I got extremely lucky with these guys and I’m forever grateful that they decided to go along with my ideas and to play my music.
I’ve noticed people seem to have a hard time defining exactly what the style of Yes, Officer is. There’s elements of post hardcore, punk, alternative rock, metalcore and even some sludge. What would you define it as?
Yeah, genres are weird. I don’t really know what to define the sound as, but I usually just go with some combination of post-hardcore/punk/alt-rock as you mentioned. I don’t really understand the metalcore reference as I’m not a fan of metal in the slightest, nor am I even aware of what exactly metalcore should sound like, haha! I mean, if it resonates with that genre, then who am I to disagree? I always kinda tell people that some of my material is loud and abrasive. That seems to get the point across.
What bands and artists would you point to as influences for the sound of Yes, Officer?
My musical influences are a melting pot, but specifically for this project I would say bands like METZ, Pile, Mannequin Pussy, IDLES, Queens of the Stone Age, Bully, Solids, and Meat Wave are huge influences. I’m also really influenced by the popular 90s alternative scene with bands/artists like Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, and Alanis Morissette. I could list bands for days and tell you the things I like about them and what I’d like to bring to the table in my own music. Good song writing is everything, and that’s what I hope to keep learning about and getting better at.
You recorded your third full length record, Autobiography of a Naysayer, while quarantining during the COVID-19 lockdowns. How has the reception to the album been and how do you feel it compares to your previous works?
When I lost my part-time jobs due to the pandemic and school went completely online, I had to move back home where I recorded the first album. Being in these familiar surroundings, I felt that it was time to start working on Autobiography of a Naysayer. Work began in mid-March and I finished just before the release date in June, so it took just under three months in total. My last three years have been a wild personal journey and I felt that I was writing an album to encapsulate all of the growth and defeat that I had endured was necessary.
I’m really proud of the newest album. I had an online release party to accommodate the social distancing issue. We all got together and listened at the same time, which was really cool. Getting real-time reactions to a first listen was something special. Those few people at the listening party made it all worthwhile. Reception has been pretty good, as far as I am aware. Nobody has told me otherwise, so I’ll just roll with it. At the end of the day, I’m writing for myself, but if other people jump on board and they enjoy what I do, well that’s just the icing on the cake.
You’ve been nominated for Loud Artist of the Year in the 2020 Music NL Awards with your third full length record. How does it feel to be nominated?
It’s pretty sweet, not gonna lie! It’s the first time anything that I have created has been nominated for an award, so that’s wild. To be mentioned with so many other great artists is an honor as it is. I’m proud of what the band has accomplished in the last few years and I’m happy that people are enjoying the music as much as I am enjoying making it.
What’s next on the horizon for Yes, Officer?
First things first, we need to get out there and play this new music to audiences. None of the new album material has been performed live yet, so I’m stoked to get a chance to do that when things get a little better with the pandemic. I just want to focus on tightening the live show up as much as possible. It’s almost been a year since our last show and we need to shake the rust off. I can’t wait to get back on stage!
Thanks for taking the time to speak to us here at Heavy NFLD and I wish you the best of luck in the 2020 Music NL Awards!
Thanks Greg. Answering these questions and reflecting on the band has been fun! Stay safe and healthy, man. Cheers!
~ Akhenaten
This is a huge deal for us! This year we’ve been selected as of the sponsors for the 2020 Music NL Awards. Specifically we’re sponsoring the Loud Artist of the Year award and honestly we’re incredibly honoured to be in this position. This year there have been five nominees for the award including as follows:
No matter who wins I just want to congratulate all of these artists for being nominated and for releasing some seriously killer music over the course of the last twelve months. It’s been a rough year but music has helped a lot of people get through it. We’re happy to be a part of this community.
~ Akhenaten
Well, well, well. Things certainly picked up in August didn’t they? After what felt like a months-long drought of news with potential stories merely trickling down the gutter into our figurative drainage pipe, things are finally starting to happen again.
We got a shit-ton of new releases including a monumental new album from the Winterhearth (their first new music in four years), the first full length record from sludgers Puce, entitled The Trough, plus a surprise return from St. John’s hardcore punks Of the Black, who have been out of the picture for so long that I imagine most people had assumed they were broken up or on indefinite hiatus. The Birchmen also surprised us by dropping their first full length album on the last day of the month and boy is it a doozy.
On top of that we hit a major milestone right here at Heavy NFLD by releasing our first ever compilation album. While it’s digital only, Burn the Leeches is a record released for a good cause. All profits obtained from digital sales of this album will be going towards the Anti-Racism Coalition of Newfoundland and Labrador. At the time of this writing we’ve already donated $100 and we’ve been getting sporadic purchases in the last few weeks. So help us reach our next hundred dollar goal and go buy yourself a copy for as low as $1.00 CDN over on our Bandcamp page!
New Albums Released
– The Birchmen – Hot L.A. Nights
– Heavy NFLD – Burn the Leeches [Compilation]
– Puce – The Trough
– Winterhearth – Riverbed Empire
New EPs Released
– Of the Black – One
– Of the Black – Two
– Of the Black – Three
– Of the Black – Four
– Of the Black – Five
New Singles Released
– Artach – “Night Songs” [Cinderella Cover]
New Demos Released
– Deadmarsh – Debut Demos
Albums Announced
– Aeria Working on New Material
Reviews
– Yes, Officer – Autobiography of a Naysayer [By Corey Merrigan]
New Merch
– Jaded Truth Reveal Rx Shirts
Horrific NFLD
– Grind Mind Working on New Horror Short Trap
– Grind Mind Reveal Release Date for Bound by Blood (Formerly Entitled Trap)
– Horror Anthology Terror Nova to Receive Physical Release
Watch
– Interview with Sruthan of Artach
– Jaded Truth Premiere Music Video for “Fat Man in an Overcoat”
– Puce – Dragonfly Sessions
– Winterhearth – “Charmed (By the Dead)” Official Lyric Video
We also got back to our regular schedule with attempting to do a monthly podcast. In this edition we play some songs from new albums that have come out in Newfoundland and Labrador over the course of 2020 thus far and we take a listen to the interview that yours truly did with CBC over on their Sunday Morning Show. You can take a listen to the latest episode over at the Heavy NFLD Bandcamp!
Albums Archived
– Hag – House Sparrow [Single / Progressive Doom Metal]
– The Knifes – No Quarantine [Live Single / Hardcore Punk]
– Nocturnal Prayer – May You Lay Waste to Astral Gods with Star Disintegration [Demo / Black Metal]
– Old Thieves – The Keys [Single / Post Hardcore]
– Rick Massie – Eclipse [LP / Progressive Metal]
– Rick Massie – Following the Rain [Single / Progressive Metal]
– Rick Massie – Time After Time [Single / Progressive Metal]
– Rick Massie – Together As One [Single / Progressive Metal]
– Ultimata – Voiceless [Single / Progressive Metalcore]
– Yes, Officer – Autobiography of a Naysayer [LP / Post Hardcore]
~ Akhenaten
Oops! We made a bit of a mistake. On account of incredibly busy home lives and a hectic summer filled with political upheaval and civil unrest we missed our June in Review segment. But hey, better late than never right? Of course it goes without saying that the continued civil unrest going on across the globe has been felt even in our home of Newfoundland and Labrador with everything from Black Lives Matter protests to COVID-19 anti-mask protests occurring on the streets and in front of the Confederation Building and heated discussions, debates and arguments going on across the Newfoundland sphere of social media.
Even in our own community there have been individuals who have been assaulted by the police (as evidenced by one of the biggest stories we published this month in which Kristopher Crane of Nemophilist and Impaled Upon the Mountains was brutally attacked in Montreal) while we decided to put together our first ever compilation album to raise funds to fight racism and discrimination here in our own backyard.
Read on to find out exactly what June 2020 had in store for the punk and metal community of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Biggest Stories
– Ambient Artist Nemophilist Assaulted by Montreal Police
– A Compilation Album for a Good Cause
– Hag Receive Coverage in The Newfoundland Herald
– Kaspam Cult Seeking New Drummer
– Local Musicians Speak Out Against Racism
– Racism in Newfoundland
– November Mayhem Will Not Happen in 2020
– Yes, Officer Donates 100% of LP Proceeds to Black Visions Collective
New Albums
– Hag – Hag
– Yes, Officer – Autobiography of a Naysayer
New EPs
– Divine Eradication – Marystown
– Froze to Debt – Mind Control
– Nemophilist / Vehement Gates – Split
– Ring of Restoration – To Breach Cyclopean Tombs
New Singles
– Blood Wyrm – “The Forbidden Hand”
– Blood Wyrm – “Runestoner”
– Blood Wyrm – “War Maiden”
– Doom ‘An Blue – “Wicked Serotonin”
– Nemophilist – “The Nightlight Man”
– Yes, Officer – “Play in Traffic”
Album Reviews
– Hefe NFLD: Deadgaard / Orchid’s Curse – Graveyard of the Gulf
– Qyn – Archetype
– Sludgefist – Sludgefist
Albums Announced
– The Hellfire Club – Volume II
Albums Archived
– Divine Eradication – Marystown
– Vehement Gates – EP
– Vehement Gates + Nemophilist – Split
~ Akhenaten
Yes, Officer – Autobiography of a Naysayer
June 12th, 2020
Post Hardcore
Independently Released
St. John’s, Newfoundland
Autobiography of a Naysayer is the second full length release by St. John’s’ own Yes, Officer. If you’re not familiar with Yes, Officer then please check out my previous review of their second project Lessons From a Snake Oil Salesman, which was independently released last year. Autobiography of a Naysayer is a great example of a style revival that I’d like to see more of in the local music scene. The song writing, the musicianship, and the production are a step above. Truly amazing for a one-man operation.
The album opens with an intro track “Autobiography of a” which sets the mood right from the start: a story is about to be told. You’re in for a treat from the beginning and this short track does a great job of making you curious for more. The second track comes in a little faster in tempo and is my favorite track on the album; “Naysayer”. This track is a serious ear worm. You’re going to have the riffs stuck in your head for days. By the time the second chorus rolls around, you’re going to want to belt out the lyrics like you were the frontman. It could be the lyrical content or the emotion behind it, but this track really hits home for me and is probably my favorite Yes, Officer song to date.
“Naysayer” eventually fades out and we’re greeted with a very different song in “Redemption Arc”. The riffs on this track give me some serious The Strokes vibes, and that’s a good thing in my book. The song has a great upbeat tempo, despite the lyrics that pull us in a different direction. But that won’t stop you from bobbing your head along with every beat.
“Seconds and Thirds” is probably my second favorite track on the album. The bass lines in this jam are so groovy they’ll take you for a walk. The guitar playing is super crisp with just a bit of over drive to break things up. The lyrics feel like something that can resonate with most of us. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and it takes us beautifully into “At My Expense”. It’s a little more slow-paced but the opening riff ties in nicely to the closing one in “Seconds and Thirds”.
“Clean Slate” and “Authors” are two of the heaviest tracks on the album. The songwriting and vocal performance here are chaotic and the guitars, especially in the latter track, match each other really well. The drum work is fast and unyielding. The chorus sections and bridges (breakdowns) in these songs are going to be absolutely massive when the world turns itself right side out again.
The album doesn’t take a break from being beefy just yet. “Pardon Me” is another taste of the hardcore side of Yes, Officer. This song is fast and has a catchy hook. This part of the album flows together really seamlessly with the next track,” Play In Traffic”. It may not be as heavy as some of the earlier songs, however the guitar work and drumming are some of the best on the album in my opinion. Stuttering drums, jarring guitar breaks, clean interludes; not to mention some of Jeremy’s best vocal work to date. It’s hard not to get lost in your headphones during this surreal part of the album.
“Identity Parade” is where things start to tie together. The song opens with a slow and melodic guitar riff, a subtle callback to the start of the album. This track really does a fantastic job of driving home the whole theme; especially with regards to the vocals. It evokes a specific feeling of a person trying to find themselves and become ‘normal’ in a world that is anything but. The heavy guitars and vocals are forced upon you, and take you for a ride.
“No Benefit” is a soft and somber album closer that you probably wouldn’t expect at this point. However the ringing out of the guitar and the low echo of the vocals are a great turn. They draw you in and leave you wondering if this is it? It isn’t. That would be too boring for Yes, Officer. The song morphs into a heavy rock breakdown that any band would be proud to call their own. A final vocal barrage from Jeremy and a lead break close out this album in a near perfect fashion.
The long and short is that this album kicks ass. I always like things a little bit heavier, but that’s not going to happen unless I sneak into Jeremy’s house and secretly down-tune all his instruments; and then we wouldn’t have the powerhouse that is Yes, Officer. It is definitely one of my favorite albums of the year. I’ve listened to this nearly as much as I’ve listened to the new Protest the Hero and The Acacia Strain albums. By the way; if you like heavy music check those out, too. I’ll keep it short and sweet and rate this album a 4.5 stars out of 5. It’s 110% worth checking out!
Final Verdict: 9/10
Awesome
Favourite Tracks:
“Naysayers”
“Identity Parade”
“Authors”
~ Written by: Corey Merrigan
~ Edited by: Chantelle Legge
Following the violent and cruel murder of black American civilian George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25th, outrage in both the United States and Canada have sparked wave upon wave of protests and rioting in the week that has followed. Many North American musicians and celebrities have used their platforms to spread messages of peace and solidarity with the marginalized communities affected by these crimes.
From our own backyard we have St. John’s post hardcore outfit Yes, Officer, which was originally the one man band of Jeremy Harnum but has since expanded to include a full lineup. Harnum announced the band’s new record, Autobiography of a Naysayer, on May 23rd. As a result of the tumultuous situation underway across much of the continent, Yes, Officer have offered to donate 100% of the proceeds from their upcoming third record to Black Visions Collective, a charity dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression.
In Harnum’s own words:
BLACK LIVES MATTER. INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER.
Complacency is siding with the oppressor. We must do better. I acknowledge my privilege as a white man and I will use it to speak up. I will call out racism when I hear it, when I see it, and do better as a human for those who need the most help; the systemically oppressed minorities who cannot live in peace until there is justice and change. Enough is enough. One person’s life being senselessly ended is far too many.
Disgusted by the actions of the police officers that murdered George Floyd this past week, and for so many other people who have died at the hands of police throughout our history, Yes, Officer will be donating 100% of the proceeds of “Autobiography of a Naysayer” from Bandcamp to Black Visions Collective, “a black, trans, and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the narrative to create transformative long-term change”.
Purchase the new single at the link below. Pay what you can, fill out your email address and it will act as a preorder. Once the album is released on June 12, I will send you a download code. I will personally start with donating $20 of my own.
https://yesofficer.bandcamp.com/track/play-in-traffic
This is not just an “American problem”. This is global, this is Canadian, this is in our own back yard and we need to recognize that. To lend a helping hand, you can visit this handy Google Doc below with numerous links to community led projects and movements which are helping the people who need it most.
JH
The group’s new single, “Play in Traffic”, was released on Saturday, May 30th, and is available for purchase and download via their Bandcamp page. You can listen to it through our Bandcamp embed below.
~ Akhenaten
HeavyNFLD 