Based (in part) out of Richmond, VA comes Leather Hearse, a new project led by former Loinclöth guitarist Tannon Penland and featuring onetime Sliang Laos vocalist "Lloyd Siege" (which is kind of a big deal to those in-the-know), as well as Hannes Grossmann (Necrophagist, Obscura, etc.) on drums—bassist Yevy Tushenko is anyone's guess. The five-song/roughly 15-minute EP certainly continues the pedigree of top-shelf math metal for which Richmond is (or should be) known with its tightly-honed rhythmic crunch and back-and-forth volley of changes.
It's tough not to draw comparisons to Loinclöth—especially during the shorter instrumental tracks—but this material does in fact vary. For one thing, the percussion is more linearly charging, but the chunky churn of the riffing also tends to become more dissonantly textured and sinewy, with some melodic bits layered in as well. There's a unique vocal approach, too, amidst dark, seething snarls where you can really hear a curiously acerbic restraint on the throat. I'll be looking forward to hearing more...
As the name implies, Burn in Heaven I is the first of two planned EPs, at the moment digital-only via Southern Lord. That being said, the download includes additional images for lyrics, credits, and a back cover—all of which would certainly suit a 7" perfectly, so... maybe we can cross our fingers for some kind of tangible release after the second set of tunes sees the light...? Until then, head to Bandcamp. I'm not seeing this up on streaming, and I always back that move 100%.
