Every time you see a vinyl package from this label, it exudes an incredible sense of quality, instantly drawing you in to explore the music further. This feeling is only amplified with the release of End Comes Too Soon, the highly anticipated third album from the iconic Chicago-based noise rock band BIG’N — their first full-length in 28 years, released via Computer Students™.
BIG’N formed in 1990 and quickly became a staple in the noise rock scene. Today, their lineup features vocalist William Akins, guitarist Todd Johnson, bassist Fred Popolo, and drummer Brian Wnukowski.
Their journey started with a stellar debut album in 1994, followed by a split single with SHELLAC in 1995, and their signature release, Discipline Through Sound, in 1996 on Skin Graft Records. After a period of dormancy, the band returned in 2010 with a compilation and an EP, eventually delivering two records recorded by the late Steve Albini: the Knife of Sin EP in 2018 and DTS 25, an extended reissue of their second album, in 2022.
End Comes Too Soon represents BIG’N at their peak, delivering their trademark sound — thunderous drumming, intricate bass work, and clangorous guitars topped with Akins’ unmistakable vocals. The album was recorded by Shane Hochstetler at Electrical Audio in two separate sessions, with Side A recorded in Studio A and Side B in Studio B — a fittingly unintentional yet poetic structure.
The album’s title, drawn from a lyric, took on unintended poignancy when Steve Albini passed away suddenly on May 7, 2024. While unrelated to Albini, the record has become a heartfelt homage to his influence and legacy.
