Czar Premiere “A Loathing” Video; Debut Album out Jan. 31 on Black Bow Records
Posted in Bootleg Theater on November 15th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Early next year — on Jan. 31, like the headline says — Colorado’s Czar will make their full-length debut through the Jon Davis (Conan)-owned Black Bow Records. The label has stood behind any range of extreme sounds and darkened vibes, but with Czar, it’s something of a different take. As their lead single, “A Loathing,” demonstrates, their style is born of a distinctive ’90s flair, following an impulse to distill some of the progressive metal reach of Tool into more palatable, structured fare, keeping the melody and atmosphere and losing the flagrant self-indulgence and contempt-for-audience that came to define that band’s work. “A Loathing” is nothing if not accessible, as the four-piece pare down the nuance to its essentials and present a post-grunge hookiness with nascent moves toward vocal harmony and a chorus that stands very much as the centerpiece of the song.
As a flannel-toting product of the decade in question, even the self-victimized perspective in the lyrics rings somewhat familiar to my ears,
but to actually go back and listen to a lot of what’s driving Czar stylistically, it sounds dated, and thankfully, Czar themselves don’t. Vocals are prominent in the mix, but behind them, the groove is weighted in its tonality and playing between a chug and more open chords during the verse and the aforementioned chorus. This too is traditionalist in a way that makes me curious as to what else the band might be up to on the record — and hey, there we are. That’s the whole point of a lead single in the first place: teasing the album from whence it comes. Nice sometimes when things work out the way they’re supposed to.
I don’t have much more info on the album than the fact that it’s coming out in January, but Czar are a new band (formed last year), and they’re clearly looking to make an impression.
You can stream the video below. I hope you enjoy:
Czar, “A Loathing” official video premiere
Formed in 2018 and signed with Black Bow Records (Jon Davis / Conan) in 2019, Czar represents the dawn of a new scene in music. Blending a rock core with grunge tones Czar (Jonathan Mason/vocals, Kalen Mauldin/bass, Nate Wilson/drums, Scott Anderson/guitar & keys) have developed a sound that puts the song center stage. Melodic verses combined with memorable choruses leave listeners hooked and wanting more. Based in Colorado, Czar is breaking new ground and every conventional rule set in front of a band. Expect the debut album on January 31, 2020. Who is Czar? Czar is freedom from established norms. Czar is pure rock n roll. Czar is your new favorite band. The Age of Czar begins now.
Czar is:
Kalen Mauldin, Jonathan Mason, Scott Anderson, Nate Wilson
