If two is company then Death House Chaplain is a crowd.
The three piece hails from Los Angeles, but if you’re thinking butt-tight-leather-pant-wearing glam rock, think again. This is not glam, it’s not metal, heck—it’s not even retro. It’s entirely original, and if you insist on a visual, think dirty. Dirty like you rolled out of bed without a shower or a shave, put on some dusty boots, whipped out an electric guitar and straight riffed on that thing all the live-long day.
Death House emerged in 2002 in the creative mind of Matthew Holl--a somewhat unassuming character who gets down on the guitar like few people you’ve ever seen or heard. He had formally fronted LA rock band, Robot. When that project disbanded he set his mind on creating a band with more of a raw, angular sound, and some serious-meets-tongue-in-cheek lyrics to match. Holl asserted this band be a three piece to help with the raw sound and to give space to the music. He solicited the help of two friends and the three determined to write a record.
Drive Through Disaster Relief was what resulted from their efforts. The self-released debut record was written in the wake of the September 11th tragedy. When writing the record, Holl struggled to create music that would make sense out of what he saw to be a completely senseless world. Without the answers, he wrote songs stream-of-consciousness. His aim wasn’t to save the world or even make you feel good. Holl wanted to simply convey the message of “my head's a mess, I'm usually not OK, and if you feel this way too it's perfectly normal.”
Soon after the full length, the band was offered a development deal with Sony Records. They put a small demo together, but no record deal actualized. Shortly thereafter, the other two members left the band. But this wasn’t R.I.P for Death House.
Over chicken and chips at El Pollo Loco one night, friend, fan, and soon to be drummer, Ben Heywood, convinced Holl to keep going as DHC, and offered his services as a drummer. Heywood then brought in long time friend, Loop Haro, to play the bass and just like that--the band was off and running again.
The new threesome got down to business, booking shows and perfecting their powerful and aggressive guitar-rock sound. Comparisons to Television, The Cure, The Who, US Maple, The Minute Men, and a plethora of others are not uncommon, but are few and far between because the band really doesn’t sound like anything else out there. Holl’s voice is edgy and unrefined a la Isaac Brock sans lisp and all the anger. Guitar work is driving and off-beat, but somehow maintains its pop sensibilities. Drum beats are unexpected in a way that makes the music entirely interesting. Because of the unrestrained sound, the bass lines really stand out in the mix. In fact, you’ve never heard bass like this.
At the end of the day, Death House Chaplain is a band that believes there is still hope for this world—that the future is a canvas we all help to paint. This is not music for the faint of heart, this is music that questions, challenges, and might even aggravate.
Upcoming full length, Of Asthma, will be out on Lujo Records in March of 2008. Screw company, get into this crowd.
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March 27, 2008
Exclusive iTunes releases!
If you look to your right you'll notice several releases that you won't be able to find in our webstore...like the new Dark Romantics Ep, The IPOF rarities album, and the self released debut by Pomegranates. The reason that they aren't in our webstore is cause we didn't press them so if you want them you better get over to itunes and download that junk!
Also be sure not to miss the Caverns ep which is also now on itunes. We actually have a VERY limited supply of that one in the webstore so all you physical media lovers better get it while you can!
Posted by Erik Brandon Aucoin @ 13:54 03/27/08 |
March 11, 2008
COOL HAND LUKE SIGNS TO LUJO!!
We are so super excited to announce the newest addition to the Lujo Family, COOL HAND LUKE! They will be releasing a brand spankin’ new LP entitled The Sleeping House late this summer. Be sure to hop on over the MySpace to check these guys out, and stay tuned for a ton more exciting news to come!
Posted by Erik Brandon Aucoin @ 15:44 03/11/08 |
March 11, 2008
NEW ALBUMS – In Stores
Head on down to your fave mom and pop record shop to pick up your very own copies of the new records from THE OUT_CIRCUIT, DEATH HOUSE CHAPLAIN, and LOOK MEXICO or buy them straight from us here in our webstore! Audio teasers are available for your listening pleasure in the media section of the site.
Posted by Erik Brandon Aucoin @ 15:43 03/11/08 |
March 06, 2008
Pomegranates Available Now!!!
Pomegranates’ Everything Is Alive is available now exclusively from lujorecords.com After self-releasing critically acclaimed EP Two Eyes, the boys put together a record..and a highly anticipated record at that. Everything Is Alive is the band's debut full length and is pure pop ecstasy from start to finish. Drawing from influences like The Beach Boys and The Kinks, Everything Is Alive is as timeless as it is Modern. Melodic guitar lines, gusto vocals, unorthodox song structures.. and comparisons to early Modest Mouse. This is what KEXP's blog had to say about the boys: “The comparisons to early Modest Mouse are pretty spot-on so long as that’s not the last word. Pomegranates’ sonic template is much wider, their pop, poppier.."
Posted by Erik Brandon Aucoin @ 15:08 03/06/08 |
December 10, 2007
OUT_CIRCUIT
The Our_Circuit's sophomore effort, Pierce the Empire With A Sound, is available now from our webstore in two forms. You can either get just the album for $10 or a 9 cd O_C/Nate Burke combo pack for just $30!
This is the album of Nathan Burke's (ex-Frodus) career. Pierce the Empire With A Sound offers you that rare space where darkness and beauty collide. The album features collaborations with Dustin Kensrue of Thrice, Sean Ingram of Coalesce, Rachel Burke of Beauty Pill, as well as members of Roadside Monument, The Epochs, Haram, and more.
Posted by Erik Brandon Aucoin @ 09:13 12/10/07 |
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In Praise of Folly
In Lieu of Hits (itunes exclusive) (lujo034)
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