Lovingly pinched from Lurker: Let’s set the record straight: Putting limits on what metal can or should be spells disaster from the start, despite it being a lifeline for many. To maim the possibilities of music with rudimentary definitions ought to be seen as a horrifying prospect, yet we all do it constantly. What is black metal? What isn’t black metal? For the honest music fan these questions prove tiresome and irrelevant, but for the metalhead it is the lifeblood. Likewise, an obsession with the individuals behind the music, rather than the music itself, borders on hero worship. Even fucking location seems to be important. If the individual doesn’t fit the bill, they are cast out and the metalhead’s favourite weapon is drawn: The hipster prefix.
One band divisive and derided enough to fit the bill is Liturgy from Brooklyn, New York (apparently this is a bad thing). The band burst onto the scene in a blaze of hatred and adoration, but unfortunately what little discussion went on over Renihilation’s musical merits was eclipsed by smear campaigns against frontman Hunter Hunt-Hendrix. Aside from liberal use of the ‘H’ bomb, one particular target is his candid philosophy. Watching that video is enough to make the most hardened warrior cringe and it’s understandable why people might shut their ears at this stage. But should they? Extensive ideologies woven into black metal is nothing new; the only difference being that most of those are about Satan and fans lap it up gladly. Focussing on these extraneous things leaves the musical content sorely neglected and if it makes your stomach churn, it’s easy to ignore.
Liturgy’s follow-up, Aesthethica, will be released through Thrill Jockey on April 18th. The label is a long-running institution with an ear for bizarro indie, post-rock and all the oddities in between. It doesn’t really help Liturgy’s cause, but it’s clear the band don’t give a shit and neither should you. After a stark opening of processed guitar noise, ‘High Gold’ launches into an uplifting (but nonetheless harsh) assault. A few things are instantly clear: The band boasts a fuller, more colourful sound and the unrestrained blasting (dubbed “burst beats”) of the debut has been harnessed to new levels of extremity.
Continue reading: Liturgy – Aesthethica | LURKER.
Tags: Aesthethica, Album of the day, black metal, Liturgy, Lurker, Thrill Jockey
This entry was posted on Sunday, April 3rd, 2011 at 4:27 am and is filed under 2011, Album of the Day . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
No Responses to “Album of the day: Liturgy – Aesthethica”