The customary reaction to hearing SUMAC for the first time comes in two phases. The first is a slight trembling of stomach muscles coupled with a tingling in the extremities. The second is an involuntary mass wetting of the pants. Hey, I’m just stating the facts, people! Even if you’re a SUMAC vet and can compose yourself appropriately, there is never NOT an overwhelming urge by the body and mind to start some sort of convulsion or evacuation upon hearing the metallists’ trademark poundfest.
The trio of Aaron Turner (ISIS, Old Man Gloom, Mamiffer), Nick Yacyshyn (Baptists, Erosion) and Brian Cook (Russian Circles) will release the follow-up to the wonderful What One Becomes, entitled Love In Shadow on September 21 via Thrill Jockey.
Produced and mixed by Kurt Ballou (Converge) and inspired by their recent collaboration with Keiji Haino, Love In Shadow sees SUMAC locked in a four-part series of brain-frying orgiastic rushes culled from a new appreciation for improvised songwriting and the insignificance of life’s complexities and alienating motives when life’s intention becomes love.
“Since many of the surface level aspects of our being are often used as divisive tools to separate and alienate us from one another,” Turner explains, “the intent with Love In Shadow is to reveal that all humans desire and need to be loved and accepted for who they are, for just being.”
Love In Shadow can be pre-ordered on CD, DL and double LP here. Peep the tracklisting, the trio’s upcoming fall tour dates, and an in-studio album trailer below. Choose love, it does the body good.
Love In Shadow tracklisting:
01. The Task
02. Attis’ Blade
03. Arcing Silver
04. Ecstasy of Unbecoming
SUMAC live:
09.01.18 - Chicago, IL - Scorched Tundra X at The Empty Bottle #
09.02.18 - Rock Island, IL - Rock Island Brewing Company %
09.03.18 - Detroit, MI - El Club ^
09.04.18 - Toronto, ON - The Garrison ^
09.05.18 - Montréal, QC - Bar Le “Ritz” P.D.B. ^
09.06.18 - Allston, MA - Great Scott ^
09.07.18 - Brooklyn, NY - Saint Vitus ^
09.08.18 - Brooklyn, NY - National Sawdust ^
09.09.18 - Philadelphia, PA - PhilaMOCA ^
09.11.18 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel ^
09.12.18 - Richmond, VA - Strange Matter ^
09.14.18 - Durham, NC - The Pinhook ^
09.15.18 - Atlanta, GA - The Earl ^
09.16.18 - Nashville, TN - The End ^
# Yakuza, In the Company of Serpents, Couch Slut
% John Mueller, Infernal Coil
^ Dalek, Infernal Coil