Ancestral Brutalism / To The Tall Trees
(He Who Corrupts - HWC023) split 7-inch $9.75
Two of Chicago’s more notable loudness enterprises deliver one song each on green marble vinyl: "Ancestral Brutalism" by Locrian (Andrew Sherer of Velnias guests) and "To The Tall Trees" by Harpoon (their first release with bass player DJ Barraca). Lulled Into A Boiling Rage describes Locrian, "Droning and forbidding sounds carried on air at top volume. Time seem[s] to slow down, waiting for the band to lurch toward their next choad rattling note. A perfect soundtrack for a desolate piece of arctic winter." About Harpoon, Cerebral Metalhead says they occupy a "middle ground between Phobia's d-beat leaning grind and Pig Destroyer's more metallic assault" (though, to be fair, they also said "When did A-Ha start playing grindcore?" so, you know, caveat emptor, motherfucker). Bonus material is included via enclosed digital card. With full-color double-sided insert, letter pressed cover.
Drenched Lands
(BloodLust! - B!127) LP + 3-inch CDR $24.00 (Out-of-stock)
Since 2005, Locrian have been zeroing in on the right blend of noise, power electronics, dark ambient, and black metal. Drenched Lands unfolds with an almost narrative structure: it slowly descends into a dark abyss, moving torturedly, gradually rediscovering the light, then leaving you where everything began -- completely transformed. Clear vinyl, limited edition of 200 copies. Bonus 3-inch CDR contains 18-minute exclusive track "Sullage." CD released by Small Doses.
Drenched Lands
(Small Doses - dose43) CD $13.50 (Out-of-stock)
Since 2005, Locrian have been zeroing in on the right blend of noise, power electronics, dark ambient, and black metal. Drenched Lands unfolds with an almost narrative structure: it slowly descends into a dark abyss, moving torturedly, gradually rediscovering the light, then leaving you where everything began -- completely transformed. The hour-long disc is rounded out by an extended bonus track previously unavailable in any digital format. Black-on-black disc packaged in an arigato pack with a 4-panel insert. Limited edition vinyl released by Bloodlust.
Rain of Ashes
(Basses Frequences - BF19) CD $12.00
The duo’s guitar- and electronic-sourced metal-tinged drone / doom this time out is not far removed from their earlier work, but the dynamic, complex guitar alternates between melodic post-punk tones and shrill piercing feedback, while a frozen wall of electronic textures stays in place, eventually allowing subtle low-end electronic sounds to move forward. Darker ambient electronics pull away and are replaced by simple 8-bit digital melody and rapid guitar plucking. The band’s combination of metal drone and noise infuses more meditative ambience and a subtle hint of post-punk rock that isn’t usually referenced in the heavier stuff.
Rhetoric Of Surfaces
(BloodLust! - B!113) CDR $12.00 (Out-of-stock)
This follow-up to Bloodlust's Plague Journal 7-inch, which showcased Locrian's distinctive style of deconstructed metal trance music, deftly unites a grouping of out-of-print and previously unreleased material from the duo, charting live and studio work that pre-dates their recent shift into more black metal-influenced territory. Rich, heavy, guitar/keyboard/voice-based drone for those who usually find such music to be too gentle or uneventful.
Territories
(Small Doses - DOSE89) CD $12.00 (Out-of-stock)
(BloodLust! - B!147) LP $16.50 (Out-of-stock)
André Foisy and Terence Hannum’s well-honed sound takes elements from noise, power-electronics, drone, and black metal, a reflection of the sprawling urban decay that surrounds Chicago. The second studio full-length from Locrian features collaborators Blake Judd (Nachtmystium, Twilight) on guitar, Bruce Lamont (Yakuza) on sax and vocals, Andrew Scherer (Velnias) on drums, and Mark Solotroff (Anatomy of Habit, Bloodyminded) on vocal and synthesizer. The textures run darker and deeper; the vocals -- sometimes three layers deep -- seem to be conjured from the decrepit muck of a failed civilization; the feedback takes on a more pronounced presence; and full-on black metal assaults burst out of tortured drones. With double-sided color insert.