San Francisco’s own gloomy june has returned to the scene with a video that’s anything but lifeless. In “Back from the Dead,” this quartet of synthpop-punk visionaries takes viewers to a graveyard—not to mourn, but to revive. With infectious, high-energy beats and soaring synths, the band rips through emotional scar tissue and turns heartache into an irresistible urge to dance. Their unique blend of synthpop, pop punk, and emo is like a spark in the dark: as they confront the raw edges of relationships and personal wounds, they also lift the audience into catharsis, making this track an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt buried by heartbreak.
Leading this celebration is front-woman Alexi Belchere, whose theatrical flair adds layers of meaning to the video. She brandishes a bouquet, rolls over her own grave, and hints that even our deepest wounds don’t keep us buried forever. It’s a playful take on grief, a reminder that despite stumbling in relationships or feeling broken, there’s always a way back to life. The cover art for “Back from the Dead” perfectly captures this spirit, showing the band gathered at the mouth of a mausoleum—a fitting entrance to the emotional excavation the song invites.
“‘Back from the Dead’ is the first offering from our debut full-length album, which we spent a year creating,” Belchere says, sharing a glimpse into the writing process. “When I was writing, I wanted to be more vulnerable with my lyrics, to go deeper than I had before. I didn’t just want to state how I felt; I wanted to peel back layers, to find out what was beneath my own surface.”
In the process, Belchere says, she encountered complex emotions and hidden fears. “I’d start out writing about feeling anxious about opening up in a new relationship,” she explains, “only to end up confronting discomfort with myself. And we often use new love as an escape from reality. When you follow those feelings—hurt, rejection, longing—you’re led to an entire underground cave to explore. That process of illumination is what excites me about our new material.”
This raw honesty is a trademark of gloomy june’s sound: as they explore dark themes of grief and anxiety, their music remains explosively vibrant. The contrasts are striking. Where anthemic synths and bittersweet guitar riffs rise, there’s often talk of hardship; but in the middle of thunderous breakdowns and descending chord progressions, lyrics reveal moments of hope and resilience. It’s a sonic balance that makes the band’s message unmistakable—embrace your pain, but dance through it.
As gloomy june readies to release their LP, they’re connecting with fans in ways that feel intimate and real, performing at LGBTQ+ events and punk venues across the country. Their live shows have become a space to move, release, and find solidarity through music. With “Back from the Dead,” the band invites you to join the celebration.
SPOTIFY | SOUNDCLOUD | YOUTUBE | INSTAGRAM | X
