This October is shaping up to be an awesome one for black metal, just as the leaves turn brown and set the stage for a grim, frostbitten winter. Earlier this week, we heard the first taste of the new Deafheaven album, and yesterday, NYC’s So Hideous released the opening track of their sophomore album, Laurestine. “Yesteryear” is seven and a half minute masterpiece. Recorded with The First Light Orchestra, it’s grand, sweeping, and, well, beautiful. The neo-classical arrangement of the music with the tortured vocals of Chris Cruz backed by a 30 piece orchestra is as epic as it seems.
Laurestine is a concept album about a man in the immediate seven minutes after dying. Here’s what Brandon Cruz told Brooklyn Vegan (who premiered “Yesteryear) about the song:
As the notes of the opening piano strike the “man” is dying; his heartbeat slowing into the arrhythmic cadence of 7. When the percussion and full band crescendo, he’s drawn his last breath; “opens” his eyes only to wake in an unfamiliar place with strong ties to his memories. Lyrically, Yesteryear deals with the blurring of dreams and memory, death as “awakening”, fugue state and the strange sensory landscape he walks through prior to finding Laurestine.
Laurestine is out on October 16th on Prosthetic. They’ll be playing a handful of dates with labelmates Set and Setting. You can find the tour dates beneath the song.
Set and Setting — 2015 Tour Dates
8/22 Tampa, FL – Orpheum*
8/23 Atlanta, GA – The Earl *
8/24 Raleigh, NC – Slim’s Downtown *
8/25 Richmond, VA – Gallery 5 * #
8/26 Harrisonburg, VA – The Golden Pony * #
8/27 Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie *
8/28 Brooklyn, NY – Silent Fest @ Saint Vitus Bar * +
8/29 Rockaway, NJ – Backroom Studios +
8/30 Allston, MA – O’Brien’sPub + ^
8/31 Montreal, QC – Turbo Haus +
9/1 Ottawa, ON – Cafe Dekcuf +
9/2 Toronto, ON – Coalition +
9/3 London, ON – The APK +
9/5 Chicago, IL – Red Line Tap +
9/6 Cincinatti, OH – Northside Yacht Club + ^
9/7 Dayton, OH – Blind Bob’s ^
9/9 Nashville, TN – East Room ^
9/10 Savannah, GA – The Jinx
9/26 Tampa, FL – Plan B Block Party
10/30 Gainesville,FL – Fest 14
* with North
# with Inter Arma
+ with So Hideous
^ with InAeona