Toronto indie rock trio BBQ Pope return with their long-awaited sophomore album ‘UNFURL,’ a raw and heartfelt reflection on grief, growth, and navigating the uncertainties of adulthood. Written after a three-year hiatus and shaped by friendship, loss, and perseverance, the nine-song record captures a band coming into its own. “This is the first time recording a record where I really felt like I wasn’t faking it,” says Reid Millar. “It feels like we came into our own sonically.” Produced by Dylan Frankland (Tallies) at Wychwood Sound, ‘UNFURL’ balances heaviness and gratitude, pairing emotional honesty with the DIY drive that has defined BBQ Pope from the start.
At the core of the album is “Pool Hall,” a cathartic and deeply personal track about grief’s dual nature — pain and gratitude coexisting as one. Inspired by the passing of a close friend, the song explores memory and love through the lens of familiar Toronto landmarks, transforming nostalgia into a living, breathing remembrance. “The reason grief is so painful is because you loved someone so deeply,” Millar shares. “It’s the price you pay for knowing that person and eventually you learn to be grateful for those memories.” With ‘UNFURL,’ BBQ Pope delivers their most focused work to date, a testament to resilience, creativity, and the enduring bond between friends.