The experimental art and sound collective Yamantaka // Sonic Titan announced that their first album in five years will come out on March 23rd, 2018. Dirt will be released via Paper Bag records. Their last album from 2013, UZU and their 2011 self-titled EP were both shortlisted for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Prize.

Dirt is “the soundtrack for an unreleased Haudenosaunee- and Buddhist-themed Anime,” according to the group’s press release. Haudenosaunee is another name for the Iroquois Native American confederacy; Buddhists are Buddhists. The anime probably tells a Native American tale using Buddhist themes. Another word associated with the group that many might not know—Yamantaka—refers to a Buddhist deity, the “lord of death.” Their name can perhaps be translated to ‘lord of death’ // Sonic Titan. Perhaps they are one in the same. Regardless, this group seeps its art in philosophy and ancient religious ideas; its new EP “Someplace” shouldn’t missed.

The group describes their style as “Noh Wave,” which is a pun that combines ‘Noh theatre’ with ‘No Wave,” a style of experimental music. Noh theatre is a genre of musical drama that the Japanese have practiced since the fourteenth century. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan, half  large-scale theatrical performance troupe and half touring rock band, seem pretty well suited to their clever pun. Their first theatrical performance came in the form of a drag rock opera entitled 33, that premiered in Toronto’s Buddies In Bad Times Theatre. Their rock band personality performed at several venues in 2012, including All Tomorrow’s Parties and North By Northeast.

Their first album, YT // ST, came out via Psychic.Handshake, an independent label, in 2011. UZU came out in 2013 to equal success. Yamantaka // Sonic Titan’s have had two albums shortlisted for the Polaris Prize; their third album will definitely be worth a listen. Hear “Someplace” below.

Dirt:

01 Karonhiake
02 Someplace
03 Dark Waters
04 Yandere
05 The Decay
06 Beast
07 Hungry Ghost
08 Dirt
09 Tawine
10 Out Of Time

Photography Credit Raymond Flotat