If you’ve ever found yourself missing the days of artsy Myspace profiles, questionable selfies taken on digital cameras, and the sweet freedom of choosing your Top 8, Gorilla Rapture’s latest single will hit you right in the nostalgia. “A Tale As Old As Tom” isn’t just a song, it’s a time machine with killer riffs.
Formed in 2021, Gorilla Rapture is the genre-bending brainchild of Jared Emmanuel Jones (Oakland, CA) and Jason Bradford (Austin, TX). Even though there are a few states between them, the chemistry is undeniable. Together, they’ve coined their own sound, “party prog,” which blends the grit of post-grunge, the hooks of pop-punk, and the clever complexity of progressive rock. It’s smart, punchy, and just the right amount of chaotic.
With “A Tale As Old As Tom,” they’ve set their sights on something we all feel but rarely say out loud: the internet just isn’t as fun as it used to be. The track mourns the loss of an online world that felt more personal, more human, and less like a soulless scroll through algorithm-curated feeds. Through witty lyrics and high-energy delivery, the duo reflect on an era where connecting meant leaving a comment, not just hitting a like button.
Musically, it’s a balancing act between soaring melodies and tight, guitar-driven precision. You can feel the early-2000s influence bleeding through, somewhere between the alt-metal atmospheres of Incubus and the anthemic punch of Green Day. But this isn’t just a throwback; it’s Gorilla Rapture doing what they do best: taking the familiar and twisting it into something sharper, funnier, and unexpectedly thought-provoking.
The beauty of Gorilla Rapture’s approach is that they don’t take themselves too seriously. Sure, their music tackles big ideas, technology’s impact, social absurdities, the weirdness of modern life- but they wrap it all in wit, irony, and an unapologetic willingness to poke the bear. “A Tale As Old As Tom” is proof that you can make people laugh, rage, and think in under four minutes, all while making them want to hit repeat.
If you’re craving music that’s as much about the ride as the destination, Gorilla Rapture has you covered. Put it on loud, remember your Myspace password (if you still can), and let them take you back, before the likes, before the algorithms, before it all got a little too polished.
