Usnea to Release Bathed in Light on Translation Loss; Preorder Available
This’ll do nicely, thanks. Portland, Oregon’s Usnea have signed to Translation Loss to issue their first full-length in six years, Bathed in Light, and have newly unveiled the first single therefrom to mark the occasion of the announcement and the launching of preorders. I don’t know how long the record has been in the works, but you can see video of the opening title-track below that was filmed in March 2020 — it was the only thing that happened that month — so at least partially for the last three years. Fair enough.
They’re not strangers to touring, hit Europe in 2016 and 2017, etc., supporting their last outing, and it doesn’t seem unreasonable to think they’ll go abroad again, perhaps for summer or fall festival season, though honestly there aren’t really even seasons anymore. It’s just festivals all the time. So much the better. Whether they’ll tour the States as well has yet to be answered but the album is out May 11, so there’s time for those answers. In any case, after a gap twice as long as their prior longest, theirs is a welcome return.
The PR wire has art, details, links and narrative:
USNEA SIGN TO TRANSLATION LOSS RECORDS, ANNOUNCE LONG-AWAITED NEW FULL LENGTH, DROP SINGLE + PREORDER
Preorder here: https://orcd.co/fromsootandpyre
Pacific Northwest doom outfit Usnea announce the highly anticipated new full length titled, “Bathed In Light”. Now signed to Translation Loss Records of Philadelphia, the band will deliver a massive new offering showing them at their most ambitious. Usnea have embraced a sound that reaches far beyond the realms of the bands previous offerings – with expansive, and dynamic ferocity. “Bathed In Light” features 6 new tracks incorporating death-rock and post-punk influences with monumental textures of synthesizers and undulating waves of doom.
About the album, vocalist and guitarist Justin Cory shares:
“It has been a brutal 6 years making this record with one of our members developing a serious chronic illness, me breaking my wrist in a motorcycle wreck, and the impacts of a global pandemic. Our previous material was already inspired by the continued decline of our global society but that has only accelerated since our last record, 2017’s ‘Portals Into Futility’.”
Usnea arose from the murky forests of Portland, OR in late 2011 from the cerebral minds of Justin Cory (Guitar & Vocals), Johnny Lovingood (Guitar), Zeke Rogers (Drums), and Joel Williams (Bass & Vocals). The quartet has proven to be a seismic level force of destructive creativity with a massive yet meditative sound, masterfully crafted songwriting, and a clear yet non-derivative influence from doom legends such as Disembowelment, My Dying Bride, Evoken, and YOB.
In February of 2013 they released their eponymous debut record on Roger’s own label Orca Wolf Records. Following a 7″ EP split with Germany’s Ruins, USNEA signed to Relapse Records and released ‘Random Cosmic Violence’ in November 2014. The record’s immense presence instantly elevated USNEA to the forefront of the blossoming American doom scene. Stereogum referred to ‘Random Cosmic Violence’ as having a “Floydian vastness that both balances and amplifies the overwhelming, crushing heaviness. Like the night sky itself, it’s full of terror and awe and ice and fire. It is a massive, monumental thing.” Usnea toured the U.S. and Europe in support of the record alongside veteran acts like Ufomammut and Inverloch and performances at notable festivals including Maryland Deathfest, Roadburn, Psycho Las Vegas, Northwest Terror Fest, Up In Smoke, and Blow Up Fest.
Today, along with the announcement of “Bathed In Light”, Usnea have unveiled a new single from the album titled, “From Soot and Pyre”. The massive and chest pounding track, laced with just the right about of groove, is streaming now. About the single, vocalist and guitarists Justin Cory shares:
“‘From Soot and Pyre’ aims its rage at the wreckage that human life has visited upon our Earth through capitalism, climate change, resource extraction, and war. It was especially poignant to us here in the PNW when the forests were burning all around us in 2020 and 2021 and the air was literally poisonous. On a lighter note, Johnny wrote some seriously infectious sludge riffs for this one and as the song evolved I got very excited about adding some swirling John Carpenter-meets-Goblin analog synth lines at the end. This song is one of our shortest but it seems to really devastate audiences live in spite of that brevity.”
“Buried In Light” will be released on two limited edition vinyl variants, CD, and across digital platforms. The album features brand new and extraordinary artwork by Justin Cory of Usnea.
Track Listing:
1. Bathed In Light
2. The Compleated Sage
3. To The Deathless
4. From Soot and Pyre
5. Premeditatio Malorum
6. Uncanny Valley
Album Details:
Recorded & Engineered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios, Oakland, CA in March 2022.
Mastered by Adam Gonsalves at Telegraph Mastering Portland, OR.
Album artwork by Justin Cory.
Promo Photo by Amyrose Ahlstrom.
Usnea is:
Justin Cory – Vocals, guitar, synthesizer, artwork
Johnny Lovingood – Guitar
Joel Williams – Vocals, Bass
Zeke Rogers – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/usneadoom/
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https://usneadoom.bandcamp.com/
http://usneadoom.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TranslationLossRecords/
https://www.instagram.com/translationlossrecords/
https://translationloss.com/
http://translationlossrecords.bigcartel.com/
