Negative 13 to Release Mourning Asteri July 8; New Song Streaming
That’s a nasty bit of heavy rock and roll taking place in the new single from resurfacing Pittsburgh sludgemovers Negative 13, and the fact that the band hasn’t put out an album in nearly 20 years reminds of some of the changes that have taken place in the by-and-large aesthetics of heavy in that time. To wit, the trend these days seems to be focused on melody and heavy rock acts are lining up to show off their melodic and/or harmonic prowess, vocally, instrumentally, or both, either through or organic means, layering, Autotune, etc.
Nothing against that. It’s a cycle of creative progressivism that has played out generationally before and probably will again. But it’s not what’s happening here. With Negative 13, I’m more taken back to the days of Emissions From the Monolith and bands like Sofa King Killer, Rue and Meatjack, who made a mission of their aggression to one degree or another and whose bent was heavy with a sense of hardcore-born disaffection. It was a mean time for riffs. And the regression here is satisfying. Maybe it’s time for that trend to shift again. Or maybe there’s just so much out there now that there’s room for everything in terms of sound. Either way, result is the same.
Info came from the PR wire, which since it’s email, is also kind of oldschool, come to think of it:
Stoner/Sludge Lords NEGATIVE 13 to Return with Mourning Asteri
Post-punk sludge quartet NEGATIVE 13 is back! Nearly 20 years after the release of their self-titled debut, NEGATIVE 13 is set to return with Mourning Asteri. The long-awaited second full-length from these veterans of the Pittsburgh, PA scene bears the mark of a band born anew. Retaining the groove-laden and abrasive fury from their early work, Mourning Asteri takes the band’s infusion of stoner, sludge, and doomcore to a new level.
Stream the album’s first single, titled “My Scars Are Showing Again”.
Mourning Asteri will be released on digital, CD, cassette, and vinyl formats on July 8. Pre-order the album now at negative13.bandcamp.com.
TRACKLIST:
1) My Scars Are Showing Again
2) Never Ending Exit Wound
3) Pain Prism
4) Mourning Asteri
5) Crack the Code
6) The Key and the Coat
7) Parahell
8) Villian
Formed in 1999, the Pittsburgh, PA quartet, NEGATIVE 13 (once known as Negative Theory), has continued to have a bit of an identity crisis. Describing their sound as post-punk infested stoner/sludge/doomcore, NEGATIVE 13 carries a curiosity that has allowed the band to reform after a hiatus with a wide-open palette of taste that reflects their artistic vision: interpret their brand of heavy metal however it is they feel fit.
Originally disbanding in 2003 after releasing their self-titled debut, the members never stopped communicating the idea of returning to the stage after going their separate ways—reuniting, however, for several shows in 2008 and 2009. After years apart, 2021 proved to be the year that things fell back into place for NEGATIVE 13, with original members drummer Chip Reynolds, vocalist Scott Fisher, and guitarist Edward Banchs reforming with the intention of fulfilling their original vision—writing albums that would leave a footprint in the metal world. With the 2021 addition of bassist Mary Bielich, the band worked on completing their second album, Mourning Asteri, in late 2021, further elevating their sound to new heights.
NEGATIVE 13 is:
Scott Fisher – Vocals
Edward Banchs – Guitar
Mary Bielich – Bass
Chip Reynolds – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063690412382
https://negative13.bandcamp.com/
