Photo by: Orion Landau
Official press release:
Portland doom quartet Usnea has announced the full details of their third full-length album, Portals Into Futility. Inspired by dystopian science-fiction and the painful intersection of today’s crushing reality, Portals Into Futility offers five songs and fifty-six minutes of expertly crafted and elegantly depressive doom/sludge. With an evolved sound of strength and dynamism, Usnea delve more into the worlds of dissonant death metal, varied vocal structures, and cinematic composition, all while maintaining the monumental heaviness, brutality, discord, anger, and mournful melodicism of their previous work. Across dark and brooding peaks and valleys, Usnea reminds us that no matter how many doors are opened to the human species, our self-aggrandizement and hubris all lead to futility.
Hear Usnea’s new song “Lathe In Heaven” below:
Comments the band of the track:
“‘Lathe Of Heaven’ was inspired by the eponymous book by Ursula K. Le Guin. It is a meditation on the blurred line between cognitive reality and delusion wherein the protagonist can change reality through dreaming. A well-intentioned psychologist attempts to corral that power but ends up creating more chaos and suffering. In the end, human arrogance and greed are shown to be the leading contributors to our own doom.”
Portals Into Futility is due out September 8th on CD, 2xLP, and digital formats via Relapse Records. Physical pre-orders and exclusive bundles are currently available via Relapse.com and digital pre-orders are available via Bandcamp.
Portals Into Futility track listing:
1. “Eidolons And The Increate”
2. “Lathe Of Heaven”
3. “Demon Haunted World”
4. “Pyrrhic Victory”
5. “A Crown Of Desolation”
Usnea is:
Justin Cory – guitar, vocals
Johnny Lovingood – guitar
Joel Williams – bass, vocals
Zeke Rogers – drums