Chosen by Monk
My latest selection sees us staying on ÜR’s home turf for the second successive day, as we are treated to explanation of the theory behind ‘The Golden Mean’, courtesy of renascent progressive metal bruisers ‘Lock Horns’, who this very day release their first new music in more than five years with the debut taster of their forthcoming sophomore album. ‘Red Room’, due for release at the end of May:
The follow-up to 2018’s self-released ‘Molon Labe’ opus, ‘Red Room’ is a case of good things come to they who wait, as the album was recorded at the end of 2022. However, it has undergone a longer process of evolution, tracing its gestation as far back as late 2019/early 2020, before the global pandemic forced the world into somewhat of a dystopian nightmare.
By the time the world opened up again, Lock Horns found themselves in possession of material that was now three years old, and not a reflection of who they had become in a post Covid world. The introduction of an eight-string guitar also had drastically changed the bands creative potential, and a decision was made to wipe their creative slate clean, and embrace the rich vein to which they had stumbled upon.
It was at this point, when ‘Red Room‘ was born, as guitarist Junior Afrifa explains:
Boundaries were pushed on this album, sonically and physically from a playing perspective. I truly believe this a seven-track album that is most definitely, ‘all killer and no filler’, as well as being full of unique songs that take an unexpected turn at every corner.
The album’s overall theme is “control” and the struggle it brings. The control over someone else, yourself or the entire population and or the complete opposite which is no control thus anarchy. From seven-minute chaotic riffs, to three minutes of polyrhythmic nightmares, this album is the brainchild of all four of us, and we’re all immensely proud of what we’ve created. Trust me when I say, it’ll be well worth the wait.
- ‘Red Room is scheduled to be released on 31 May via Belfast’s The Distortion Project and Code7 Distribution.
- Junior Afrifa plays the Ards International Guitar Festival on Saturday 20 April.