Today is the day we warned you about – well, that we told you about roughly a month ago when we first introduced you to the Big Apple postpunk duo known as A Cloud of Ravens . They may be no strangers to die-hard postpunk and darkwave fans, but they were new to us at the time. Low and behold, they are now on our radar and we have the pleasure of presenting their snazzy dark luscious album today – ‘Lost Hymns’ has now officially been unleashed on the world, just days after the band launched their European tour with Swedish label-mates Then Comes Silence.
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Effectively merging classic and contemporary post-punk and darkwave sensibilities, their somewhat poetic use of prose and metaphor expressed the trials and joys of the world in which we now find ourselves. A Cloud of Ravens’ subsequent remix-based EP featured contributions by legendary producer John Fryer and such prominent artists as Clan of Xymox, ACTORS, Chris Vrenna and Ritual Howls.
Mastered by ACTORS’ Jason Corbett at Jacknife Sound studio, this collection of 11 tracks is released through Nexilis Records / Schubert Music Europe. following the singles ‘Parable’, ‘Requiem For The Sun’, ‘Nature of Artifice’ and‘The Blackest Mantra‘.
Matthew McIntosh says, “In some ways, ‘Parable’ channels Einstein’s definition of insanity, which is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. Though dense in metaphor, ‘Parable’ is asking – how dire do things need to get in this world for us to realize, as a society and culturally, that maybe something needs to shift as far as how we honor each other, the futility of war, and how we treat the environment? We’ve got one planet, and we’re on it together whether we like it or not. Doesn’t the path of least resistance ultimately make the most sense?”
Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn-based duo emerged on the burgeoning dark music scene with a series of self-released offerings that garnered attention that led to their 2021 album ‘Another Kind of Midnight’, a mournful yet triumphant collection exploring the heart of a world amidst a devastating pandemic and torn by moral tribalism.
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, as well as professionally supporting fellow musicians in the A&R field.
You can find the ‘Lost Hymns’ album everywhere online now, including Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon and Bandcamp. Following April-May tour dates in Europe, A Cloud of Ravens will tour North American dates with Clan of Xymox and Curse Mackey in May-June.
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
TOUR DATES
Apr 29 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
Apr 30 Madrid, Spain – DarkMad *
May 05 Hannover, Germany – Subkultur *
May 06 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
May 07 Liège, Belgium – Le Garage Creative Music *
May 09 Hamburg, Germany – Headcrash *
May 10 Hamburg, Germany – Bastard Club *
May 11 Berlin, Germany – Wild at Heart *
May 12 Antwerpen, Belgium – Fetish Café *
May 13 Köln, Germany – Artheater *
May 31 San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger **
June 01 Houston, TX – Numbers Night Club **
June 02 Austin, TX – Elysium Austin **
June 03 Dallas, TX – Granada Theater **
June 05 Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad **
June 06 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater **
June 07 Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall **
June 09 Seattle, WA – El Corazon **
June 10 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre **
June 11 Portland, OR – Star Theater **
June 13 San Francisco, CA – August Hall **
June 14 Costa Mesa, CA – The Wayfarer **
June 15 San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick **
June 16 Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater DTLA **
July 21 Meschede, Germany – Live Am See *
* tour dates with Then Comes Silence
** tour dates with Clan of Xymox & Curse Mackey
