Locrian are a US experimental drone band and this is their seventh album.
It has been seven long years since 2015’s Infinite Dissolution, but Locrian have finally resurfaced to bring us a tale of apocalyptic decline and environmental decay. New Catastrophism is a different record to its predecessor though. It contains 36 minutes of new material divided into four tracks, and showcases Locrian at their sparsest, yet also their most immersive and atmospheric. Continue reading “Locrian – New Catastrophism (Review)”
Locrian’s new album Infinite Dissolution is a highly textured and multi-faceted release that requires repeated spins to really make its wonders known. In an effort to delve deeper into all things Locrian I got in touch with keyboardist/vocalist Terence…
For those who are unfamiliar with your band – introduce yourself!
I’m Terence and I play keyboards and do vocals in Locrian. I live in Baltimore while the other guys live in Chicago.
Give us a bit of history to Locrian
We started in 2005 as a duo of just Andre on guitar and myself on keyboards and vocals. In 2009 Steven joined on drums and we released “The Crystal World”, we’ve collaborated with Mamiffer, Christoph Heemann and Horseback.
Where did the band name come from?
Andre came up with it, it’s a mode in music theory but it’s also a lost civilization in antiquity.
What are your influences?
It’s really diverse, for the band it’s a lot of progressive rock, noise, German kosmiche music, Industrial and metal – everything from Voivod to Emperor. Personally I would say Einsturzende Neubauten, Skullflower and Brian Eno are big for me.
What are you listening to at the moment that you would like to recommend?
The new Container LP just titled LP is nice. Chaos Echoes “Transient” LP is beautiful I think.
The cover for Infinite Dissolution is pretty special – tell us about this
I am a visual artist and I used to be an art critic and had to review a show that I saw some of David Altmejd’s early work in. I’ve always been enamored with his work and just kept following it as it got bigger and more immersive. Anyway I thought a mirror was kind of this negating surface to compose with mirrors is a way to dissipate an image or presence – it just fit.
Is having a visual aspect to accompany the music an important thing to you?
Absolutely.
What are the subjects/themes of the songs on this album?
The extinction of humanity. By the elements and by our own doing.
What’s your favourite song on the album and why?
The whole album is a story you can’t really pick one – just listen through.
Your songs are quite complex and feature many different parts – what’s the creation process like?
Thank you. Our process is very intuitive we use the studio to create and we just want to surprise ourselves and the listeners. I don’t think there is much new under the sun but I hope we can try and get people excited.
How did the recording go?
Great! We recorded at Electrical Audio with Greg Norman in our favorite space, studio B. It was great. I got to use their Mellotron and an EDP Wasp. Just a great time.
How do you see your songs/direction developing in the future?
I’m not sure, we kind of go where we want and where the narratives go.
What’s next for Locrian?
Well we will be playing on the west coast in August 13-22 and are really excited to get there and celebrate our decade of existence in November with some special dates in the Midwest.
Locrian are a US Experimental Post-Metal band and this is their latest album.
Featuring an album cover that makes me feel uncomfortable and like I’m going to go insane, (courtesy of David Altmejd), this is music that caters to people who want more from the bands that they listen to, and more is what Locrian provide.
Locrian play Post-Metal that contains Avant-Garde, Black-Metal and Industrial elements. Electronics, keyboards, piano, samples and a whole host of other instruments grace this album in addition to the standard instruments. Two songs also contain guest female vocals as well. All of this should give you an insight into how much depth, variety and interest there is to be had here.
Elements of Drone, Noise, Industrial, Post-Metal and Black Metal all clash into a wonderful melange of music that reminds of some twisted cross between Russian Circles and Blut Aus Nord.
This is a highly textured and multi-faceted release that requires repeated spins to really make its wonders known. There’s a lot of different things going on here and it’s easy to miss some of it the first time around, especially as there’s a lot of subtle sounds and effects going on in the background, almost behind the main event, so to speak.
There’s a resplendent darkness that seeps from this music like a sentient and malevolent oil stain that’s searching for ways to get into your body. Something here doesn’t have your best interests at heart and it’s subtle, insidious and unfaltering in its desire to do harm.
This is music to get lost to and get lost in. The band have a talent for creating soundscapes that sear your thoughts and burn the mind.
Highly recommended as your dose of something different and sublime.
Locrian are a US experimental drone band and this is their seventh album.
What are the subjects/themes of the songs on this album?
Wonderbox Metal 