Pure Reason Revolution return with new album ‘Above Cirrus’; first single ‘New Kind of Evil’ out now
Pure Reason Revolution are pleased to announce their fifth studio album ‘Above Cirrus’ will be released 6th May 2022 via InsideOutMusic. This is the follow-up to 2020’s ‘Eupnea’, which was the band’s first record since reuniting in 2019. This time around, Jon Courtney, Chloë Alper & Greg Jong (who returns as a full-time member for the first time since the ‘Cautionary Tales For The Brave’ EP) find themselves adapting to a world that is radically changing before their eyes, and on this new record, exorcising the isolation and uncertainty in search of something greater.
Today also sees the launch of the album’s first single, the epic 9-minute track ‘New Kind of Evil’. Watch the video, created by Thomas Hicks.
Greg Jong comments on the track: “When Jon first
played me his initial version of New Kind of Evil, I was honestly astonished by
the beautiful melding of the halftime shuffle beat with such a giant yet
melodious guitar riff. Then the synth line and vocal melodies entered and
elevated the emotion even further — it was a really cool moment, I hope people
hearing it for the first time experience a similar feeling.”
Jon Courtney adds: “Very excited to get the first
of our new material out there in 2022. This was the first track I worked on in
2020, the embryo formed in the midst of tidal waves of uncertainty. I wanted
the rollercoaster of a track to mirror that uneasiness & surreal
bewilderment.”
Of the new album ‘Above Cirrus’, Chloë Alper comments:
"Since Pure Reason Revolution's reformation I feel that this band has
embraced its identity and its place within the Progressive rock genre with a
force, confidence and grandeur that radiates through the work. This new record
fills me with as much pride as it does head-to-toe tingles. I am excited for
the music loving community to hear it and excited for the prospect of it
growing our reach."
On ‘Above Cirrus’, the band continues many of the
musical through lines that fans have come to expect; maintaining a balance
between somber reflection and intrepid exploration, leading listeners through a
shapeshifting collection of seven tracks that evoke a range of emotions. On the
songs ‘Our Prism’ and ‘New Kind of Evil’, the energy reaches magnificent
heights of guitar-led catharsis, rivaling the best efforts of acts like Tool
and Filter, while offerings in ‘Lucid’ and ‘Dead Butterfly’ meld the group’s
keyboard-centric song-structures with vast, epic soundscapes. But, unlike its
predecessor, ‘Above Cirrus’ is far from a narrative driven concept record. As
Jon confides, each song, while fueled by his personal journeys and the
condition of modern times, is truly its own device. Reflecting on the lyricism
of the record, he adds:
“Often my writing occupies itself with relationships;
how we can be so tender/loving with each other in one instance, days later or
even in a few flashes we’re tearing each other apart. The sublime & the
savage/vicious. The music reflects this light & shade dynamic shift too.
Our world shrinks through lockdowns/restrictions & strain is intensified.
However, the end message is one of optimism – affirmation we’ll get to the end
of this surreal chapter & be stronger together. Through the turbulence,
we’ll help each other through the darkness.”
The album will be released as Limited CD, Gatefold
LP+CD & as Digital Download, featuring beautiful cover artwork by artist
Jill Tegan Doherty, who previously created the cover for ‘Eupnea’. Pre-order
now here: https://purereasonrevolution.lnk.to/AboveCirrus
The full track-listing is below:
1. Our Prism
2.
New Kind of Evil
3.
Phantoms
4.
Cruel Deliverance
5.
Scream Sideways
6.
Dead Butterfly
7. Lucid
The band will also head out on a European tour alongside
Gazpacho in April 2022. Find the full list of dates below:
8th April – Club Cann, Stuttgart, Germany
9th April – Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany
10th April – Columbia Theater, Berlin, Germany
11th April – Die Kantine, Cologne, Germany
13th April – Mezz, Breda, Netherlands
14th April – Hedon, Zwolle, Netherlands
16th April – Petit Bain, Paris, France
17th April – Earth Theatre, London, UK
They have also confirmed two festival shows as below:
22nd July – Night of the Prog Festival, St.
Goarshausen, Germany
14th August – United Arts Festival, Gdańsk,
Poland
PURE REASON REVOLUTION online:
https://www.facebook.com/purereasonrevolution/
https://twitter.com/prr_official
https://www.instagram.com/purereasonrevolution_official/
https://www.purereasonrevolutionofficial.com
INSIDEOUTMUSIC online:
www.youtube.com/InsideOutMusicTV