Earlier this month, Godspeed You! Black Emperor announced that their long-awaited seventh record, Luciferian Towers would be coming in September 2017. Today, the album is available for pre-order, alongside the first track, “Undoing a Luciferian Towers.” It is an interesting choice for what is essentially a lead single – the vibe of the song is more ‘ambient and menacing’ than ‘catchy hit-material.’ Sinister Orchestral sounds throughout the track feel like calm before the storm.
“1. UNDOING A LUCIFERIAN TOWERS – look at that fucking skyline! big lazy money writ in dull marble obelisks! imagine all those buildings much later on, hollowed out and stripped bare of wires and glass, listen- the wind is whistling through all 3,000 of its burning window-holes!” “Undoing a Luciferian Towers” feels like a precursor to the album both sonically and symbolically. The symbolism of hulking towers combined with the droning orchestral track calls to mind the stated album themes of inequality and institutionalized violence.
Luciferian Towers comes with a set of ‘grand demands’: “an end to foreign invasions, an end to borders, the total dismantling of the prison-industrial complex, healthcare, housing, food and water acknowledged as an inalienable human right, and the expert fuckers who broke this world never get to speak again.” While the band initially reported that Luciferian Towers would be four songs, this doesn’t seem exactly true. There are seven tracks listed on BandCamp, “Undoing a Luciferian Towers,” “Bosses Hang (Pt. 1-3),” “Fam/Famine,” and “Anthem For No State (Pt. 1-3).”
The full album will not be available until September 22nd, 2017. It’s runtime is 43:50, and it will be available on CD, vinyl, or digitally. After that, European tour will start in Rome, and continue through November.
Photo Credit: Adam Blyweiss
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