COUNTERPARTS

In January and February, Brendan Murphy's melodic hardcore band will be touring Europe, including a stop in Karlsruhe. They will be supported by Sunami, One Step Closer, and God Complex.

Since their formation in 2007, Counterparts—consisting of Murphy, guitarists Alex Re and Jesse Doreen, bassist Tyler Williams, and drummer Kyle Brownlee—have evolved from the underground scene in Hamilton, Ontario, to become one of the most renowned hardcore bands in the world. But after 15 years of band history, Murphy couldn't help but think about a possible turning point. "I started thinking about what it would be like to write an album as if it were our last, to create something that I would be satisfied with even then," explains the always outspoken singer. "I love this band, it's the most important thing I've ever done, and I'm very grateful for it. But we invest a lot, and it's not the most sustainable lifestyle." Murphy's directness is part of the appeal of Counterparts and has earned them a loyal fan base that appreciates the fearless honesty at the core of everything the band does.

"We're just totally transparent," says Murphy. "Almost to the extreme. I don't hide my feelings in my lyrics, I say what I want to say publicly, there are just no secrets. So even though this album has some ambiguities, I also believe that people will understand where we're coming from."