As is the case with their previous release, Illinois experimental post rockers STAGHORN are heavily influenced by nature, as well as having a radical and political motive to educate and connect with others who are into permaculture/sustainable/responsible living. Their new record, Wormwood III, directly addresses society’s water problems and how it appears as though it will become a more and more alarming issue in the near future. This view inspires the members’ commitment to sustainable living, in which the two founding members live mostly off-grid within a community with its own unique water system. Further, they have built a full tiny home out of a shipping container, and live and work alongside organic farmers in the community. Today, we’re thrilled to give you the full stream of their new opus “Movements II & III”, an alternately hypnotic and captivating, sleepy and epicly explosive teaser of what to expect from the full release.
Wormwood III was recorded at Earth Analog Studios (Owned by Matt Talbot of HUM) in Tolono, IL by Aaron McAllister. It was recorded live to 2 in. tape and mixed at McAllister Audio in Urbana, IL. Mastered by Dave Eck at Lucky Lacquers. It will be released as a one-sided, etched 12″ EP pressed on 180 gram vinyl. Limited to 450 copies (250 on Coke bottle clear with brown smoke, 200 black) in partnership with Shuga Records in Chicago. This limited first edition release will be screen printed by hand on recycled paper. Preorders are up HERE.
“Then the third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star burning like a torch fell from heaven and landed on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water. The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters turned bitter like wormwood oil, and many people died from the bitter waters.”
This album is a story about the water crisis that mankind is facing. The decisions we make today will forever shape the world to come.
Cover art illustration by Seth Rodgers.
Staghorn was founded in South Florida by Jared and Lexy, later joined by a third member, Luke, and eventually transplanted to their current location of Urbana, Illinois. The collective imagined an origin story of “Staghorn” (accompanied by a comic book illustrating as such alongside their first EP), which tells of the fictional post-apocalyptic group of people who have traveled back in time to warn humanity of an animal revolt in the the future that will leave mankind on the brink of extinction. With two of the band’s members currently living predominantly off-grid, their environmental ethics and exhaustingly DIY attitude are at the heart of everything the Staghorn collective does, including their Mogwai/ Godspeed You! Black Emperor style of epic, introspective, transcendentalist compositions. Equally heavy in concept and musicality, their art is meant to create a soundtrack to a better world by highlighting that which is both bleak and hopeful along the way. Strongly principled as a do-it-yourself collective which operates Leave Your Mark Print Shop and Mills Custom Amps, the band uses their trades, creativity and compassion to affect a working, sustainable future: they create their own amps and cabs, print all of their own merch, and have records pressed that are predominantly made of recycled materials. In short, activism is the driving force behind every element of Staghorn’s art.
“Strong headed, goal driven and entombed within the spirit of the underground music scene is the Do It Yourself mentality… St. Louis’ Staghorn is very much the prime example of individuals that continuously give to the music scene.” -New Noise Magazine
“…ultra-powerful, gorgeous-by-way-of-harrowing…’” -Decibel Magazine
STAGHORN live dates:
May 11 – St. Louis, MO @ FOAM w/ Unwed Sailor and Early Day Miners
May 12 – Tulsa, OK @ The Yeti w/ Unwed Sailor and Early Day MinersMay 14 – Denver, CO @ Club Scum
June 19 – Springfield, IL @ The Black sheep w/ LUME
June 20 – Rock Island, IL – Rock Island Supper Club w/ Cloud Rat and Closet Witch
June 21 – Lincoln, NE @ Duffy’s Tavern
July 5-7 – Urbana, IL @ Audiofeed Festival
September 20th – Bristol, UK – The Louisiana w/ yndi halda
September 21st – Canterbury, UK – UCA Union Bar w/ yndi halda
September 22nd – London, UK – Omeara
