Houston, Texas four-piece Trembler have just signed to the tremendous Rite Field Records. The band consist of Luke Gonzales, CJ Anderson, Ceej Burton, Martin Long, and Nathan Dietrich and are set to release their Total Sorry EP to the world.
Trembler are a new name to me so I pressed play on this release with some intrigue. From what I understand this EP is a pivot in both the bands approach and sound overall. Their 2022 album Folding, produced by Corey Coffman of Gleemer fame, straddled the worlds of emo and the widescreen pomp of post-rock. On the topic of this release bandleader Gonzales explains.
“Losing my closest friends, having my view of something that consumed so much of my life splinter and leave, and wondering whether it was hollow all along. Generally, a good representation of the central feeling I was trying to capture on this EP. It’s sad, but in my opinion, sober in its acceptance that how things were are over now, in an attempt to move on.”
‘Like Sugar’ opens the EP like an amuse bouche. This is a spoken word piece and is backed with a melody that could soundtrack a French arthouse movie from the 90’s. The band are creating a mood here. Setting our expectations for the musical world we have entered. It’s a dark world this one, one of loss and coping, just and no more. This is a bold choice for an opener but it pays off.
The title track ‘Total Sorry’ deepens that mood. They take Midwest emo and strip it way back. Guitars pick out the sadness whilst atmospheric swells lift us when needed. Then when the drums come in you get it. The band have built this wall of noise that only becomes apparent when you get up close and personal. I’m such a fan of how this song is arranged.
The guitars have a definite metallic tone on ‘The Gonzales Shoulder’. The melody however reminds me of Death Cab for Cutie, high praise indeed. The band bring a heft of their very own to this sound. Trilling guitars crash into chugging riffs as heavy as lead and as the song progresses things just get dirtier and scuzzier. Love this one.
‘Wilt’ arrives as the emotional centre of the EP. Released ahead of the full record; it makes complete sense heard in context. Soft guitars and vocals reflect on loss with a steadiness that feels grounded in faith that this too shall pass. Gonzales has spoken about this song as an act of acceptance, and you can hear that clarity throughout. This is not a song about fighting grief. It is about acknowledging that something has ended and choosing to move forward anyway.
‘Love Leave The Body’ closes the EP with a flourish. We are now in a heavy shoegazey kinda place and I’m loving it. This song really comes to life when you crank the volume. The band pull it all back mid song to really let us feel those vocals. When it kicks back in its like diving headfirst into sound. What a way to finish out.
Listening back, what stays with you is not just individual moments, but the way this EP hangs together as a whole. Each track feeds into the next, building a clear emotional through line without spelling everything out. It feels personal without being insular, heavy without being overwhelming. For a band new to my ears, Trembler have made a strong case for attention here, delivering a record that understands restraint as a strength. Whatever comes next, Total Sorry proves there is nothing apologetic about where Trembler are right now.
Total Sorry is released on January 29 2026 via Rite Field Records on cassette, CD and two vinyl variants. You can check it out over on the Trembler Bandcamp page.
You can follow Trembler on social media here…
Photo Credit
Ethan Jaso
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