Sprain was an American

experimental rock Experimental rock, also called avant-rock, is a subgenre of rock music that pushes the boundaries of common composition and performance technique or which experiments with the basic elements of the genre. Artists aim to liberate and innovate, wit ...

band from

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

that formed in 2018. Its final lineup consisted of Alexander Gregory Kent (guitar, vocals, keyboards), April Gerloff (bass guitar), Sylvie Simmons (guitar), and Clint Dodson (drums). The band released two studio albums and one EP before abruptly disbanding in 2023, a month after the release of their second album '' The Lamb as Effigy''.

History

Following the disbandment of Hybrid Sheep Organizer, Alex Kent and several former members regrouped to record new material. Shortly afterwards, April Gerloff would join the sessions and many of these recordings would end up comprising their self-titled debut EP, released in August 2018. It was inspired by slowcore bands such as Low and Duster. After adding two new members, Max Pretzer on drums and Sylvie Simmons on second guitar, they started to work on their debut album. In December 2019, Sprain signed to The Flenser record label. The band's debut album, ''As Lost Through Collision'', released in September 2020, saw the band playing louder and more abrasive music, by the virtue of having more members. Before recording a follow-up to their debut, drummer Max Pretzker was unable to record and had to be replaced by percussionist Clint Dodson. Their second album '' The Lamb as Effigy'' was eventually released on September 1, 2023. The nearly two-hour album was developed through intense live shows over the preceding years. On September 3, 2023, the band performed what would turn out to be their final concert at the Moroccan Lounge in

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, where they played ''The Lamb as Effigy'' in its entirety as well as a 30 minute-long new song. The show would be documented on the officially approved bootleg concert film ''The Lamb as Effigy (Live)''. On October 16, 2023, the band abruptly announced their disbandment in a post on their social media accounts. After Sprain's disbandment was announced, bassist April Gerloff revealed that she was kicked out of the band three weeks prior. Following the breakup, Kent started a solo career, releasing two albums under his own name, as well as performing live under the moniker "Big Brown Cow".

Shearling

In July 2024, it was announced that Kent and Simmons formed a band called Shearling and that songs made during their time in Sprain but not released would be reused and further developed. They announced an upcoming album and performed a debut show on August 3, 2024. The album was formally announced on April 24, 2025, and released on May 1, 2025.{{Cite web , title=Stream Sprain Offshoot Shearling’s New Single-Track Debut Album Motherfucker, I Am Both: “Amen” And “Hallelujah”… , url=https://www.stereogum.com/2306384/stream-sprain-offshoot-shearlings-new-single-track-debut-album-motherfucker-i-am-both-amen-and-hallelujah/music/ , access-date=May 3, 2025 , website=Stereogum , language=en-US

Discography

* ''Motherfucker, I am Both: "Amen" and "Hallelujah"...'' (2025; Mishap Records)

Members

Final lineup * Alex Kent – vocals, guitar, piano (2018–2023) * April Gerloff – bass guitar, synthesizer, engineer (2018–2023) * Sylvie Simmons – guitar (2019–2023) * Clint Dodson – drums, percussion (2020–2023) Previous members * Max Pretzker – drums (2019–2020)

Discography

Studio albums

* ''As Lost Through Collision'' (2020; The Flenser) * '' The Lamb as Effigy'' (2023; The Flenser)

Live albums

* ''The Lamb as Effigy (Live)'' (2023)

EPs

* ''Sprain'' (2018; Joyless Youth)

Singles

* "Anything" (2018) * "True Norwegian Black Metal" (2018) * "Worship House" (2020) * "Constant Hum" (2020) * "Man Proposes, God Disposes" (2023) * "Privilege of Being" (2023) * "We Think So Ill of You" (2023)

References

Musical groups established in 2018 American post-hardcore musical groups 2018 establishments in California Rock music groups from California Slowcore groups Indie rock musical groups from California