A CLOUD OF RAVENS – “REQUIEM FOR THE SUN”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
If there is anything that the past few years have shown us about the music scene, it’s that post-punk is alive and well as a genre and that it is blossoming with dark shimmer throughout the world. So it should come as no surprise to find that New York, being the hub of music hubs as it is, is also a hotbed of ominous music and quick a good swathe of it is good or even great.
Enter A Cloud of Ravens, whose new single “Requiem For The Sun” unveils the latest blast of sonic luxuriance from their impending Lost Hymns album, racing at full velocity with tight-fisted riffs, cutting exactitude and danceability. This duo, with their DIY attitude and sheer talent, serve as a healthy reminder of the original and timeless allure of the post-punk sound and scene.
A Cloud of Ravens emerged in Brooklyn, formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar). Growing up in a family of avid music lovers and her mother being a professional opera single, McIntosh arrived at this genre of music after ample explorations in the punk, death rock and hardcore scenes, finally forging the duo’s trademark sound with Narducci, whose background is more connected with alternative rock and industrial music.
“Though it has nothing to do with actual organized religion, “Requiem for the Sun” takes me back to hymns I sang in church choir as a child, and informed the album’s title. To paraphrase a sentiment that dates back to the early 20th century; in a world of deceit and disinformation, both personal or worldly, sunlight, truth, is the best disinfectant. If this song has a message, it’s that,” says Matthew McIntosh.
Over the past few months, the band has been gaining accolades and airplay on several continents for the first tasters from the forthcoming album – “Nature of Artifice” and “The Blackest Mantra”.
Recorded from spring to autumn 2021 and mastered by ACTORS’ Jason Corbett at the Jacknife Sound studio in Vancouver, the Lost Hymns LP will be released in early 2023 via Berlin-based Nexilis Records, a division of Schubert Music Europe.
Following their 2021 album Another Kind of Midnight, A Cloud of Ravens’ released a subsequent remix-based EP, featuring contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, ACTORS, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.
As of Friday, the new single can be had from all the usual digital outlets, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp. Things to look forward to – the full Lost Hymns album will be released in April 2023 and the band will be partaking in a good number of North American tour dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in mid-2023. Check them out below.
Credits
Lyrics and music by Matthew McIntosh
Matthew McIntosh – guitar, vocals, synths, drum programming
Beth Narducci – bass guitar
Recorded by Matthew McIntosh
Produced and mixed by Matthew McIntosh and Beth Narducci
Mastered by Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound
Artist photos by Kevin W Condon
Also enjoy the latest two audio-visual offerings:
A Cloud of Ravens
[Single]
(Nexilis Records)
Release Date: February 3, 2023
TOUR DATES (with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey)
Wed, May 31 – San Antonio TX
Thu, June 1 – Houston TX
Fri, June 2 – Austin TX
Sat, June 3 – Dallas TX
Mon, June 5 – Albuquerque NM
Tue, June 6 – Denver CO
Wed, June 7 – Salt Lake City UT
Fri, June 9 – Seattle WA
Sat, June 10 – Vancouver BC
Sun, June 11 – Portland OR
Tue, June 13 – San Francisco CA
Wed, June 14 – Costa Mesa CA
Thu, June 15 – San Diego CA
Fri, June 16 – Los Angeles CA
More Tour Information HERE
Artist Links
Photo Credits: Kevin W Condon
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: A CLOUD OF RAVENS – LOST HYMNS (EXTENDED)
SPILL NEWS: A CLOUD OF RAVENS JOINS METROPOLIS RECORDS
