Liturgy release "Reign Array" from upcoming LP; Psalm Zero and Mivos Quartet opening NYC show
by Andrew Sacher
photo: Psalm Zero at Saint Vitus in 2014 (more by Greg Cristman)
Earlier this year, when the usually-black metal band Liturgy released the first new single “Quetzalcoatl” from their new album The Ark Work (due 3/24 via Thrill Jockey), it was notable for being entirely not metal at all. Sure, metal snobs were quick to point out that Liturgy “were never metal” anyway, but this song was really not metal. This used to be a band with blast beats and abrasive screams. “Quetzalcoatl” is a clean-vocal industrial rock song. I was fully expecting the rest of the album to follow suit, but they actually surprised me.
It’s still clean vocals, and it’s still mostly not a metal album, but skins master Greg Fox brings back those blast beats on a handful of songs, while the rest of the band crafts more accessible, melodic music than the band was previously known for. That’s especially evident on the new 10-minute single “Reign Array.” Black metal fans will probably hate this comparison, but Liturgy have made an album that will likely be listened to by many people who don’t normally listen to the genre, so here goes: if you like Deafheaven but you’re not huge on the screaming, this song could be for you. Listen below.
Liturgy’s upcoming tour includes a hometown show on April 15 at Saint Vitus, and openers for that have been announced. It’s with new-music ensemble Mivos Quartet, and another band that toes the line between metal and non-metal, Psalm Zero. Tickets are still available.
Stream Liturgy’s new song, with music from both Vitus openers and the full list of tour dates, below…
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Liturgy – “Reign Array”
Psalm Zero – The Drain
Mivos Quartet in 2012
Liturgy — 2015 Tour Dates
April 2 Washington, DC – DC9 ^
April 3 Philadelphia, PA – Boot & Saddle ^
April 4 Raleigh, NC – Kings ^
April 5 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade ^
April 7 Austin, TX – Red 7 ^
April 8 Dallas, TX – Club Dada ^
April 9 Kansas City, MO – Record Bar ^
April 10 Chicago, IL – Subterranean ^
April 11 Oberlin, OH – Dionysus Disco ^
April 15 Brooklyn, NY – Saint Vitus Bar #
April 28 Neumos – Seattle, WA *
April 29 Dantes – Portland, OR *
May 01 The Chapel – San Francisco , CA *
May 02 Leo’s – Oakland, CA *
May 03 Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA *
May 04 Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA *
May 05 Casbah – San Diego, CA *
June 17-21 Toronto, ON – NXNE
June 20 Montreal, Quebec – Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B.
June 21 Allston, MA – Great Scott
^ – w/ Sannhet
* – w/ Lightning Bolt
# – w/ Mivos Quartet, Psalm Zero
