Jobber - "Hell In A Cell"

One of the only saving graces of the current hellscape we’re living through is the increasing prevalence of organized labor. Despite efforts by corporate overlords to stomp it out, unions have started to make some gains as of late. It’s been invigorating to see the collective Davids at companies like Amazon and Starbucks piledriving the not-so-mighty Goliaths.

That wrestling metaphor is not lost on the Brooklyn quartet behind this week’s Song of the Week. “Hell In A Cell,” the new single from jobber, uses allegory to illuminate front person Kate Meizner’s own experiences duking it out with management. The song is steered by some weighty guitar riffs, as Meizner describes a fictional wrestler grappling with whether the physical toll is worth the spectacle of an over-the-top match. Sonically, the pendulum does swing back and forth, as the massive guitar-driven refrains lighten up in the verses, allowing Meizner’s melodic vocal stylings, and clever lyrics, to come through clearly.

Meizner shared a bit about the song’s deeper, personal meaning, and how the fictional lyrics mirror her real-life experiences in the workplace:

The lyrics are pretty personal and came out at a time when my job was having an especially negative impact on my health. I wanted to quit so badly, but in the midst of Covid-19-related layoffs and economic downturn, everyone was being bludgeoned with anti-labor talking points like…. “why are you complaining about your job? You should feel grateful to even have a job!” The lyrics “Am I ungracious?/ Because I won’t turn water into wine/ Am I buried forever?/ If I start speaking my mind” are from the POV of the wrestler, but also came from a personal place, expressing my anger toward workplaces and their horrendous, exploitative treatment of workers.

According to the band’s Instagram, the employees at Meizner’s old job ultimately formed a union. That’s a happy ending we can all get behind.

The band also shared an awesome, wrestling video game-themed video that pits The Mask, Karl Marx, and others against each other in a no holds barred match. Watch it below!

“Hell In A Cell” is the title track off of the band’s forthcoming debut EP, which is out on October 21st via Exploding In Sound. You can pre-order the EP on cassette via Bandcamp. “Hell In A Cell” is also available to stream on Spotify. Keep up with the band by following them on Instagram.

To coincide with the release of Hell In A Cell, Jobber will be playing a string of dates in the Northeast. Catch them in Connecticut, Brooklyn, and Philly:

October 22nd: East Haven, CT at The Beer Racks with Washer, Rick Rude, Them Airs, and Glambat.

November 5th: Brooklyn, NY at Alphaville with TVOD and Customer.

November 6th: Philadelphia, PA at Foto Club with Amanda X and Washer.