Nashville-based heavy duo Friendship Commanders are gearing up for the release of their new album BEAR, arriving October 10 via Magnetic Eye Records.
The record was co-produced by band members Buick Audra (guitars, vocals) and Jerry Roe (drums, bass), alongside their longtime collaborator Kurt Ballou, who also tracked the instrumentals and mixed the album. At its core, BEARexplores the elusive concept of belonging—where it exists, and where it doesn’t.
New Dual Single: “X / MIDHEAVEN”
Today, the band unveils their second dual single, “X / MIDHEAVEN,” paired with a brand-new music video for “X,” directed and edited by Jerry Roe and shot by Jarad Clement. The premiere launched via Everything Is Noise, and both tracks are now streaming across all major platforms.
Just like their earlier dual single “KEEPING SCORE / MELT,” these new tracks represent opposite ends of BEAR’s sonic spectrum—one leaning heavier, the other more spacious and melodic—each tackling themes of identity and influence.
On “X”
Written in June 2024, just weeks after the passing of Steve Albini, Buick Audra reflects:
“I was grieving, but I was also watching a generation grieve in ways I’d observed my whole life—stoically, strongly, sentimentally, and somewhat individually. This song is a loving send-up to that lost generation. We wanted the track and visuals to honor some of the artists who raised us creatively, including Steve. The camera I’m holding in the second verse was his. Very moving to have and include it here. He was a young Boomer, but the absolute King of Gen X. Missed and loved.”
On “MIDHEAVEN”
Audra continues:
“‘MIDHEAVEN’ goes wider; it gets into this idea of being born under a certain set of stars, and whether or not that has anything to do with who we are. As a person who feels like a lifelong misfit with a nature I can’t seem to change, I’m curious about where that starts. Is it written from the start? I’m willing to believe anything at this point. Some days, it’s tempting to blame it all on the sky.”
Drummer/bassist Jerry Roe also weighed in on the creative process:
“I wanted the video for ‘X’ to have the vibe and look of those by our favorite bands from the Gen X/Grunge era while still being its own thing. Everyone wanted to appear tough and cool while also not seeming to take what they were doing too seriously. There’s such a particular mood of the era that no one has captured since. It was the best time for the medium of music videos, honestly, and it was a lot of fun to try and channel it. I find it moving to watch in a way that surprises me.”
“‘MIDHEAVEN’ stands out in our discography for being so instrumentally driven. The vocals and melody are just as integral a part of the song as any in our repertoire, but large portions of this track are just the two of us ripping at each other—and it’s an absolute blast to listen to and play.”
What’s Next
With BEAR on the horizon and a growing catalog of dual singles, Friendship Commanders are shaping a body of work that’s as emotionally raw as it is sonically powerful. Stay tuned for more ahead of the album’s October 10 release.
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