Pre-order Locrian "The Clearing/The Final Epoch" 2xCD at Relapse

Link here. 

Here's the press release: 

LOCRIAN:  The Clearing/The Final Epoch To See Release

Experimental, dark ambient / noise trio LOCRIAN are set to release their most recent recording (previously available only on vinyl) The Clearing as a 2CD/Digital deluxe album with a bonus disc re-titled as The Clearing/The Final Epoch via Relapse Records.  The second disc contains almost an hour of previously unreleased material containing the band’s signature sound of ominous crescendos mixed with powerful atmospherics and pulverizing tension.  This deluxe reissue, housed in a gorgeous mini “tip-on” gatefold package will see an August 14th release and is available for pre-order now at this location.  

LOCRIAN, located in Chicago, IL and Baltimore, MD has released over 20 recordings on an eclectic array of labels in their relatively short but prolific career, including a recent split with label-mates HORSEBACK.  Additionally, the group plan to enter the studio later this year for their full-length Relapse debut.  

    LOCRIAN is available for interviews upon request. To speak with the band, simply contact bob@relapse.com. Updated LOCRIAN news / album information will be made available at the Relapse Records website: RELAPSE.com and the LOCRIAN Facebook page.

“Plenty of bands play music that sounds dark, but few can make every note bleed black and breathe smoke. Count Locrian as part of that select circle.” – Pitchfork

“Countless musicians have tried to imitate [Locrian’s] brand of dense, blackened experimentalism, but Locrian remains in a class all their own.” – OMG Vinyl

“They access the alienated moods and harsh outlook of metal’s blackest wings in distinct but complementary ways.” – MetalSucks

Locrian at Uneasy Listening: "I WANT TO BE SMEARED. I WANT TO BE NOT SO CLEAR"

Steven Hess and I recently spoke with Jamie Ludwig who started a great new website called Uneasy Listening. This turned out to be one of my favorite interviews that we've done. Here's an excerpt.

Link to the entire interview here.

"I’m hanging out with Locrian’s André Foisy at The Map Room in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood, waiting for drummer Steven Hess to arrive when he tells me that a recent night out with friends has left Wang Chung’s “Everybody Have Fun” stuck in his head for days. Rather than being frustrated, or even hateful of the mental loop, Foisy says he’s rather enjoying the 80s party hit and even sings the chorus for emphasis. This makes me laugh because a) it’s Wang Chung, and b) enthusiasm for this particular track is not what I expect to hear from a dedicated experimental musician who plays in a band more known for exploring the outer reaches of noise, drone, heavy metal, ambient, and avant-jazz than it is for new wave. At the same time, given its non-adherence to convention, and its knack for successfully blend seemingly incongruous elements together, if Locrian announced its next project was a collection of dance covers not only would I not be surprised, but I’d be eager to hear it too.

Foisy (guitars, Arp Avatar, electronics) co-founded Locrian with Terrence Hannum (vocals, synthesizers, piano, organ, Mellotron, and tapes) in 2005. Despite periodic collaborations with other musicians, the band remained a two-piece until recruiting Hess, an accomplished drummer who also performs with Haptic and Pan American, among others, just before recording its third studio album The Crystal World (Utech, 2010).

Each band mate has his hands full juggling musical projects, work, relationships, and in Foisy’s case, managing extreme music label Land of Decay, but as a group, they are especially prolific. In just over six years, Locrian has produced upwards of twenty releases that encompass varying musical textures, moods, and instrumentation, and are often delivered in limited editions or multiple formats.

Hannum relocated to Baltimore in 2011, a move which might seem disruptive to an outsider but which hasn’t slowed Locrian down a bit. Since the summer of 2011, the band has released three albums including New Dominions (Utech), an evocative split LP with psyche/drone metalist Horseback, a critically-acclaimed, genre-defying fourth full-length, The Clearing (Fan Death), and Bless Them That Curse You (Profound Lore/Utech/Sige/Land of Decay), a sparse, graceful collaboration with fellow experimentalists Mamiffer (Faith Coloccia and Aaron Turner).

What’s more, Foisy and Hess tell me over pints of exotic beers (Hannum, being across the country, was unable to join us), they’ve just been signed to Relapse Records and plan to record their next full length later this year. Relapse will also re-release The Clearing on CD and packaged with a bonus disc as The Clearing/The Final Epoch. Cheers to you, Locrian! Our interview follows."

LOCRIAN: Sign To Relapse Records

Here's an announcement from Relapse. What do you think about this?

----------------

Relapse Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of experimental, dark ambient / noise trio LOCRIAN. LOCRIAN formed in late 2005 and consist of André Foisy (Electric and Acoustic Guitars, Arp Avatar, Electronics), Terence Hannum (Vocals, Synthesizers, Piano, Organ, Mellotron and Tapes) and Steven Hess (Drums, Electronics). The group, located in Chicago, IL and Baltimore, MD has released over 20 recordings on an eclectic array of labels in their relatively short but prolific career, including a recent split with label-mates HORSEBACK.

LOCRIAN plan to enter the studio later this year for their full-length Relapse debut. Furthermore, this summer Relapse will reissue the group’s most recent vinyl only release The Clearing as a 2CD/Digital deluxe album with a bonus disc re-titled as The Clearing/The Final Epoch. More details on the reissue and the new album will be available shortly.

André Foisy commented on the new collaboration with Relapse:

"It's really an honor to be working with one of the labels that we grew up with and a label that's put out such a wide variety of material that we love. We plan to record our full-length album for Relapse later this year with Greg Norman at Electrical Audio in Chicago."


P.S. Be sure to pre-order the new Horseback album from them. It's sure to be awesome!

Congratulations to our friend Jenks (Horseback)!

Looks like Jenks will be working with Relapse on his next album.

We expect the Locrian/Horseback 7" (Turgid Animal) to be out before long...

----------------
HORSEBACK Sign To Relapse Records --- 3/31/2010

Relapse Records is proud to announce the signing of North Carolina’s HORSEBACK.

HORSEBACK, the brainchild of Jenks Miller, has released two full-length albums since forming in 2007. The band’s second full-length, The Invisible Mountain, will be re-released through Relapse later this summer. Audio samples from The Invisible Mountain and more can be heard online now via the HORSEBACK MySpace: MySpace.com/HorsebackNoise.

Miller commented on the signing; "Horseback is an ever-evolving project which will explore a variety of sounds and approaches in its lifetime. I am glad to have the opportunity to work with Relapse, and have long admired their commitment to new and challenging music."

HORSEBACK is currently writing for the follow-up album to The Invisible Mountain, a companion album that is tentatively titled Half Blood. Additional details on this release will be announced soon.

HORSEBACK will take part in the Hopscotch Festival in Raleigh, NC this September. The Hopscotch Festival is presented by Raleigh’s Independent Weekly and this year’s fest will also include PUBLIC ENEMY, PANDA BEAR, LUCERO, HARVEY MILK, OCEAN, and many more. Additional information on the festival can be found here.