Now that the classic lineup of New York black metal combo Liturgy has been back together for a few months, the group have revealed plans to put out a new LP. Titled The Ark Work, the group's first full-length in four years lands March 24 via Thrill Jockey.
A press release explains that while bandleader/songwriter Hunter Hunt-Hendrix and guitarist Bernard Gann had been performing as a duo following the release of 2011 breakthrough Aesthethica, Hunt-Hendrix plotted out the album by himself for a couple of years. The return of bassist Tyler Dusenbury and drummer Greg Fox in 2014 led to the recording of the band's latest slab of self-described "transcendental black metal."
The album is said to push the band in new directions, with Hunt-Hendrix apparently having swapped shrieks for more reserved, chant-like vocals. In addition to the group's regular instrument duties, the record reportedly features the sounds of glockenspiels, bagpipes, synthetic MIDI strings and brass, and more. Stylistically, it's said to blend metal energy with mediaeval sounds, "occult-oriented rap," and glitched-out textures of EDM.
Melancholy crusher "Quetzalcoatl," the set's first single, ambitiously blends some of these sounds together and can be streamed down below. You'll find the tracklisting for The Ark Work down there as well, along with an album trailer.
The Ark Work:
1. Fanfare
2. Follow
3. Kel Valhaal
4. Follow II
5. Quetzalcoatl
6. Father Vorizen
7. Haelegen
8. Reign Array
9. Vitriol
10. Total War
A press release explains that while bandleader/songwriter Hunter Hunt-Hendrix and guitarist Bernard Gann had been performing as a duo following the release of 2011 breakthrough Aesthethica, Hunt-Hendrix plotted out the album by himself for a couple of years. The return of bassist Tyler Dusenbury and drummer Greg Fox in 2014 led to the recording of the band's latest slab of self-described "transcendental black metal."
The album is said to push the band in new directions, with Hunt-Hendrix apparently having swapped shrieks for more reserved, chant-like vocals. In addition to the group's regular instrument duties, the record reportedly features the sounds of glockenspiels, bagpipes, synthetic MIDI strings and brass, and more. Stylistically, it's said to blend metal energy with mediaeval sounds, "occult-oriented rap," and glitched-out textures of EDM.
Melancholy crusher "Quetzalcoatl," the set's first single, ambitiously blends some of these sounds together and can be streamed down below. You'll find the tracklisting for The Ark Work down there as well, along with an album trailer.
The Ark Work:
1. Fanfare
2. Follow
3. Kel Valhaal
4. Follow II
5. Quetzalcoatl
6. Father Vorizen
7. Haelegen
8. Reign Array
9. Vitriol
10. Total War