Hawk and Swan - New Album from Earth Altar
The second full-length from Canada’s own Earth Altar is ready for atmospheric re-entry. The Kjipuktuk (Halifax, Nova Scotia) based band will release “Hawk and Swan” on September 4th with Black Throne Productions.
A thick, nebulous mix of heavy, psychedelic, and electronic sounds carries themes of human history, story-telling, and mythos. The thunderous, bombastic drumming of Jon MacIsaac leads, informs, and compliments the atmospheric, heavy basslines of Spencer Trout; which together paint a sonic picture of human imagination and curiosity.
Building on the 2023 release of the “Inter Terra Solis” split with Ontario’s Sun Below, Earth Altar continues their journey into the boundless realms of human experience. Earth Altar enlisted the synthesizer wizardry of Katie Wayne to augment the drums, bass, and other instruments recorded at Ocean Floor Studios by Charles Austin. “Hawk and Swan” was mixed by Colin Kelly of Redsky Productions, and mastered by Zack Hollow of Z Hollow Studios.
Earth Altar formed in the dark days of 2020, when a grand conjunction of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth brought Jon MacIsaac (drums, vocals, bajo quinto) and Spencer Trout (bass guitar, vocals, synthesizers) together to explore heavy soundscapes. A shared love of Pallbearer, Yob, Rush, and Pink Floyd blossomed into unique, flowing song structures and dense sonic adventurousness. Since then, Earth Altar has toured Canada linking up with like-minded bands and relishing the heavy renaissance in Canadian music.
“We began writing this record almost four years ago, while exploring and expanding our sounds as a two-piece.” Says Jon MacIsaac. “Jon and I always see how far we can take it, then dial it back one notch.” Adds Spencer Trout; he continues: “The songs are always growing, the structure always changing, and the meaning always deepening.” MacIsaac finishes: “We challenged ourselves rhythmically and structurally, while adding interludes and creating space between songs.”
“Hawk and Swan” consists of:
Cyclic Path
Tryptich
Red Eye
Preluding Pendulums
Infatuation with Levitation
Gadd’s Wall
Lawgiver
Hawk and Swan
A release show is booked for “Hawk and Swan” at Sidestage in Winnipeg, Manitoba for
September 4th , with Bayrolles and Satanic Rights with following shows at:
5 September – Saskatoon – Black Cat Tavern – w/ local support
6 September – Edmonton - Black Bar
7 September – Calgary – Vern’s – w/ Bodies of Everest, Lumivore
9 September – Vancouver – The Astoria – w/ Empress, Lumivore, Goblin Vessel
10 September – Kelowna – Jackknife Brewing – w/ Empress, Lumivore
11 September – Kamloops – Kammi Inn – w/ Empress, Lumivore, Freddie and the
Magpies
12 September – Chilliwack – Chill House - w/ Empress, Lumivore, and Tayos
“Hawk and Swan” is available for pre-order on coloured 12” vinyl (to be shipped on release), and will be available digitally and physically shipping mid-late August.
https://blackthroneproductions.com/products/earth-altar-hawk-and-swan-vinyl
