TAU CROSS, the veteran punk / metal collective revolving around Amebix bassist / frontman Rob "The Baron" Miller, Voivod drummer Michel "Away" Langevin, and members of cult crust outfit Misery and War//Plague, have recently completed recording their sophomore full-length tentatively titled A Pillar of Fire.
Recorded across many different locations in the same manner as their eponymous debut, the drums were tracked Montreal, guitars in Minneapolis, bass in Seattle and Minneapolis), vocals on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. Vocalist Rob "The Baron" Miller elaborated on the new material:
"This approach can be challenging given the location of the band members, but it is a necessity that we have tried to turn into a strength. Video conferencing and messenger services have been helpful in guiding the process to completion.
The album was mixed at Smiddy studios on the isle of Skye by James Adams who has also taken on duties as our keyboard player. We have had contributions from Themis for some of the ambient sounds on the album, a Hurdy Gurdy from Tanner Anderson and even bagpipes from 16-year-old Scottish virtuoso Brighde Chaimbeul, so there are some interesting textures, with an emphasis on the lyrical content. As usual, we have constructed a few intriguing landscapes for the listener to engage with."
A Pillar of Fire unearths some of the preoccupations of both The Baron and Away: mythological motifs, ultra-terrestrial hypotheses, surreal social political landscapes and the endless search for meaning in a controlled Universe. A summer 2017 release via Relapse Records is expected.
Stay tuned for more info and news on TAU CROSS.
About Tau Cross:
TAU CROSS is an underground punk/metal union featuring Rob “The Baron” Miller (Amebix) on bass and vocals, Michel “Away” Langevin (Voivod) on drums and Jon Misery (Misery) and Andy Lefton (War//Plague) on guitars. Formed in 2013 across two continents and three countries, TAU CROSS is the natural evolution of Miller’s work in Amebix. Tribal rhythms, searing guitars and Miller’s huge booming voice are all set to an apocalyptic atmosphere that will satisfy the crustiest punks as well as the blackest metallers. TAU CROSS refuses to be pigeonholed, affirming the respective legacies of its members – the band delves into the realms of gothic rock, industrial, early doom, post-punk, and prog rock alongside its crust and thrash roots.
The band’s self-titled debut was recorded in 2014 and released in May 2015, and immediately found widespread critical acclaim. Cvlt Nation called Tau Cross “a thundering sonic journey, conjuring magick and darkness from the listener’s soul,” and Metal Injection stated, “Tau Cross has absolutely killed it and we are all better off for having this album in our collective lives”. Invisible Oranges described the record as “never losing a penchant for strong songwriting,” and warned listeners to “ignore it at your own peril.” TAU CROSS may have set a high standard for its first record, but if the band has proven anything so far, it’s that it’s incredibly skilled at meeting – and exceeding – expectations.
