Author & Punisher release new single 'Blacksmith'
Photo credit: Becky DiGiglio
Krüller album out 11th February via Relapse Records
UK / EU tour postponed
San Diego-based outfit Author & Punisher treat fans to a third and final preview of the forthcoming album, Krüller, out 11th February via Relapse Records, with the release of 'Blacksmith'.
Watch the visualiser for 'Blacksmith' here: https://youtu.be/hbAtufmWiZ0
“’Blacksmith’ is a track that I co-wrote with the Krüller producer Jason Begin (Vytear),” explains mastermind Tristan Shone. “This one is a bit of an adventure where we go from my slow bending drones and morph into Jason's jungle and breaks, with the same halftime bassline and vocals tying it together. Lyrically, this is an ode to Black women-led movements who have been fearlessly leading the way against oppression in this country for a long time."
Shone began work on Krüller after returning from his opening slot with Tool across the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand, before being cut short due to the March 2020 lockdowns. "Melody has been and is still a part of my sound," says Shone. "I've always bathed them in a lot of reverb, delay, and distortion, though. This time around, I was bothered by the wall of distortion I had created. I wanted a little more clarity. I wanted to refine the sound. I wanted to step back from my own show and analyze it a bit. I had all these competing distortions that I wanted to streamline. I like contrast and wanted the vocals to be immediately noticeable. There's something about mixing punishing drones and rumble with a mellow thing on top that I really like on Krüller.”
Two already-released singles: Drone Carrying Dread, and Maiden Star have showcased the new avenues Shone is taking his music. Consequence said Drone Carrying Dread is “one of the prettiest A&P tracks to date, though no less sonically powerful,” Metal Injection noted the music’s “massive industrial percussion, floating synths and dreamy guitars,” and Revolver succinctly dubbed the collection “emotional machine music.”
Part of the Krüller revamp included refining the machines that have become synonymous with Author & Punisher. As a result, Shone is also launching a bespoke audio gear company called Drone Machines to coincide with the release of Krüller. The gear company launch follows nearly two decades of Author & Punisher honing in on his craft - meticulously inventing, machining, experimenting, and creating custom musical instruments for his incredible live performances and recordings.
Krüller pre-orders are available now (https://orcd.co/authorandpunisher-kruller) with the 52-minute collection available on a selection of limited-edition vinyl variants, that tie into the colour palette of the album artwork, CD, cassette and digitally.
Author & Punisher have added several U.S. tour dates while simultaneously moving the forthcoming European headlining tour to Spring. The planned U.K. / EU dates have been cancelled. An overseas Fall trek with Perturbator and Health begins on 6th October.
For more information:
Tristanshone.com
Facebook.com/authorandpunisher
Instagram.com/authorandpunisher
Twitter.com/authorandpunisher
Authorandpunisher.bandcamp.com
Track-listing:
1. Drone Carrying Dread
2. Incinerator
3. Centurion (feat. Justin Chancellor)
4. Maiden Star
5. Misery (feat. Danny Carey)
6. Glorybox (Portishead cover)
7. Blacksmith (featuring VYTEAR)
8. Krüller
More info on Author & Punisher:
Author & Punisher formed in January 2004 as the brainchild of mechanical engineer, artist and sculptor Tristan Shone. His innovation, and the unique way he has melded his seemingly disparate background, has been highlighted in a wide range of outlets, from Wired Magazine who dubbed him a “doom metal auteur,” to Pitchfork who noted he “literalized the idea of sound sculpture.” He has released seven full-length albums and an EP over the years: The Painted Army (2005), Warcry (2007), Drone Machines (2010), Ursus Americanus (2012), Women & Children (2013), Melk En Honing (2015), Pressure Mine EP (2017) and Beastland (2018).