Locrian

Coming up from the basements of experimental black metal, Locrian quickly made a name for themselves, laying the cobblestones for their own unique world. Through three LPs and a small stash of other releases, the group have floated ever towards a mesmerizing sound that defies classification. Dark, brooding, complex, and lush, with each release Locrian have raised the bar for their own grey sky heightened standards.

This fall, Fan Death Records sees Locrian give birth to their magnum opus. "The Clearing" breaks free of the “must own” list for the group itself, and transcends into a “must own” list for general fans of everything from "Loveless" to "Goo" to "Black One", "Touched", "Through Silver and Blood", and beyond. Not quite ambient, certainly not black metal, "The Clearing" takes a diversity of sounds, combined with a hushed aesthetic, and folds them into a mature record that demands attention from the first second to the last. This may be the closest the group will ever come to capturing the holy communion of their live performances. Here you find a staggering arc of sound that may be the group’s finest hour. At nearly 20 minutes, a slowly building rite pulls the listener into a place and time that they will compulsively visit over and over again to better understand. For every person any of the above strikes a chord with, Locrian is a must-know band, and "The Clearing" is a must-own album. I must warn you that it isn't an easy listening...

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