ANCESTORS announces special “Of Sound Mind” CD release show

LA-based psychedelic doom rock collective ANCESTORS has completed work on its highly anticipated sophomore album. Entitled Of Sound Mind, the record will drop on October 6, 2009 via NYC’s Tee Pee Records.

ANCESTORS have just announced a very special Los Angeles live performance that will serve as the CD release show for Of Sound Mind. The event will take place on Saturday, October 10 at 219 W. 24th Street in downtown LA, where ANCESTORS will perform Of Sound Mind in its entirety backed by mind-expanding visuals designed by Sera Timms of label mates Black Math Horsemen. Live support at the event will come from both Black Math Horsemen and San Diego progressive rockers Astra. Of Sound Mind has met to shining pre-release critical acclaim; being called “a triumphant prog-metal ride” “that you should start listening now” by Stereogum and “a thicker and more modern version of Pink Floyd” by Synthesis.

A taste of what Of Sound Mind holds in store can be sampled now as the new ANCESTORS song “Bounty of Age” has made its premiere via Stereogum. Check it out now at this location:
http://stereogum.com/archives/new-ancestors-bounty-of-age-stereogum-premiere_087341.html

Formed in 2006, ANCESTORS create mighty, modern music that dovetails innovative arrangement, crushing primordial riff interplay and melodic instrumental passages with textural “metalgaze” atmospherics. Recorded, mixed and mastered at Infrasonic Sound by Pete Lyman, (The Mars Volta, Beck, No Age), Of Sound Mind is an 8-part, hour-long experience that is at once passionate, bold and challenging. Described as “A journey through the past into the future,” the album showcases ANCESTORS’ ever-evolving musicianship and metrics, which have drawn comparison to Neurosis, Hawkwind, King Crimson, Om and (early) Black Sabbath. Of Sound Mind injects an intoxicating mien into the soul of hard rock and vintage metal and seethes with both analog warmth and astute atmosphere.

Essentially conceptual in nature, Of Sound Mind lyrically and thematically contemplates the quandaries of human psychology and its effect on and within the development of modern society. Without absolution or authority, the band's cathartic choruses and thought-provoking prose insight a “thought crusade” with meaningful intent. The follow up to the group’s critically acclaimed debut, Neptune with Fire, Of Sound Mind features contributions by notable Los Angeles artists David Scott Stone (Melvins, Unwound, Slug), Sera Timms (Black Math Horsemen) and cellist Ramiro Zapata. With both thunderous roar and expansive communiqué, ANCESTORS are proving to be a quickly-emerging force of musical power and creativity.

The final track listing for Of Sound Mind is as follows:

1.) From Nothing
2.) Mother Animal
3.) Not the Last Return
4.) Bounty of Age
5.) A Friend
6.) The Trial
7.) Challenging
8.) The Ambrose Law

At the October 10 Los Angeles show, ANCESTORS will have for sale a special, limited edition Of Sound Mind box set. The set, beautifully designed and constructed by San Francisco’s Husk Industries, has been produced “with the intent to present goods that graphically complement, and function visually as one with the sound and progressive vision of the band” and to “present a truly unique piece that will be as visually stimulating as it is aurally.”

The limited ANCESTORS Of Sound Mind box set (pre-order here) includes (all components are exclusive to the box set in a hand numbered edition of 50):

– 1 ANCESTORS Of Sound Mind 2xLP (on limited edition cream / pink vinyl!)

– 1 Of Sound Mind LP screen printed Kraft mailer w/ art work by Todd White (www.deepslumberlake.com).

– 1 12″ x 12″ Giclée print (on 308gsm Hahnemühle German eching paper) featuring the Of Sound Mind album cover art signed and numbered by artist Derek Albeck.

– 1 ANCESTORS unique color way shirt w/ artwork by Todd White (printed on American Apparel).

– 1″ ANCESTORS button w/ Of Sound Mind album cover art.

– 1 ANCESTORS patch w/ art work by Todd White.

On the topic of the new album, ANCESTORS’ guitarist / vocalist Justin Maranga states, “The new record is definitely a leap forward in the evolution of the band. Although “Of Sound Mind” is more loosely conceptual than “Neptune with Fire”, the music is tighter than ever. We're truly proud of the album and eager to put it in the hands of the fans.” The band’s Chico Foley adds, “With much gratitude for all involved, we are excited to release our sophomore record, “Of Sound Mind.” The record, of which we are immensely proud of, attempts to parallel diversity in songwriting with lyrical premises: popular notions of human psychology — for an all round correlation of ideas.”

ANCESTORS features Justin Maranga – (Guitar, Vocals), Nick Long (Bass Guitar, Vocals), Brandon Pierce (Drums, Gong), Chico Foley (Electronics, Keys, and Vocals) and J. Christopher Watkins (Organ, Vocals).