CITRIS

"While scanning through artist submissions can be a soul-deadening endeavor, every once in a while something pokes through and negates any frustration by virtue of being a perfect fit for this site. The latest of these came in the form of CITRIS and their video for “On the Sidelines”. Born out of the increasingly fertile SUNY Purchase scene, CITRIS has been quietly perfecting a blend of genres that will ensure they’ve got an appeal that appeals to an enviable range of demographics. While last year’s admittedly great Half Smile wound up being demonstrative of the band’s talent, it only hinted at the levels of promise that usually precede something like “On the Sidelines”.

Where the band was previously wiry, they’ve now fallen comfortably into a groove where they operate in a mode where the stakes are higher and the sound, accordingly, is a lot bigger. To match the unexpected aesthetic shift, CITRIS is offering up a lighthearted video for “On the Sidelines”, the lead-off single for the band’s upcoming record, Panic in Hampton Bays. Focusing exclusively on the primary minds behind CITRIS, Angelina Torreano and Chris Krasnow, the clip augments the song’s widescreen sensibilities with an appealing array of close-ups and scenic shots in a handful of genial locations. In providing this contrast, “On the Sidelines” manages to wrangle its soaring atmospherics into something that feels genuine and grounded; essentially, it creates an agreeable middle ground that emphasizes some of the song’s underlying aspects and brings out its humanity.

Torreano, CITRIS’ vocalist/guitarist, is an especially magnetic onscreen presence and she walks away with most of the screentime, giving a commanding performance that covers the breadth of the song’s impressively varied emotional range. Everything is ultimately resolved with a wink and a smile, effectively rendering “On the Sidelines” a modest celebration of all of life’s ups and downs. It’s an engaging, endearing work that provides ample indication CITRIS is ready to move on to bigger stages. If the rest of Panic in Hampton Bays can live up to a preview this strong, expecting to be hearing their name a lot more often." - Steven Spoerl

Explosive drop-D grunge-metal guitars and thundering drums introduce the new Citris single “Hell Is a Place on Earth” (streaming below). Written and performed by Angelina Torreano (guitar/vocals) and recorded/mixed and mastered by Chris Krasnow (who also contributes drums/bass and guitar) the track is a heavy rumination on personal failings against larger global issues. “Too selfish to die, too right to be happy, too weak to be leaned on. Leave it to me to destroy everything that is good,” the singer laments. The title line, repeated in the chorus, benefits from harmonized vocal layering, adding a big-studio sheen to that hook, followed by the lyrics “give me your love, then take it away.” A pivotal statement arrives one minute in, when the instruments drop out for the solo vocals declaration “I don't look back in anger.” While that progression cycles through again (with alternate lyrical content), a sophisticated, angular, prog-metal break emerges around the 3rd minute and takes the track to its conclusion. This initial release comes ahead of the upcoming full-length album “Delusions of Glamour.” Having just completed a west coast tour, the band has a number of local shows in the works including 9/18 at Rubulad. - The Deli

Brooklyn indie rock band Citris put out one of our favorite albums of last year, and they’ve now returned with a new single, ‘Driving Me Crazy’ (listen below). The song is a slow-burning stomper about the “death of romance.” - Culture Creature