EP 2

Released in late 2015, EP 2 represents a pivotal moment for Animal Flag, the project of singer-songwriter Matthew Politoski. While the project's earlier work flirted with folk and indie rock, this EP solidified the 'Animal Flag sound': a high-contrast blend of intimate singer-songwriter sensibilities and massive, post-rock-influenced crescendos. The centerpiece of the record is the ten-minute 'Cathedrals,' a track that exemplifies the band's ability to sustain tension over long durations before resolving into a cathartic wall of sound. Lyrically, the EP is a deep dive into religious deconstruction, wrestling with themes of faith, doubt, and the search for identity outside of traditional structures. This thematic focus, combined with the raw, unpolished intensity of the vocal performances, earned the band a dedicated following within the mid-2010s emo and indie rock scenes. It serves as a bridge between their more acoustic origins and the more expansive, full-band sound of their later LP, Void Heaven.