Metal Injection today slams the masses with a premiere of “Coup De Grace,” the new single from Nashville, Tennessee-based powerviolence duo THETAN, preceding the release of their volatile Grand Ole Agony LP through their own Anti-Corporate Music this October.
Raging through the South and East Coast since 2011, THETAN has been a force of nature in the punk and metal worlds, while also crossing over to work with iconic hip-hop emcees such as Kool Keith, Ultramagnetic MC’s, and LIL B. Mixing early hardcore with West Coast powerviolence and sprinkling in the dark musical sensibilities of 1990s European black metal, THETAN has created a crushing brand of hardcore that grinds and devastates listeners before plunging them into nerve shattering psychedelia on their new full-length, Grand Ole Agony.
On Grand Ole Agony, THETAN’s Chad L’Eplattenier (drums, theremin), and Dan Emery (bass, theremin, vocals, mountain dulcimer) take their craft to another sonic dimension. The album opens with nightmarish soundscapes which give way to a monologue by legendary Tennessee rap icon Crunchy Black of Three 6 Mafia, followed by an explosion of speaker rupturing distorted bass and unrelenting drum blasts. What follows is over thirty minutes of uncompromising sonic abuse, delving into the depths of the human psyche, loss of companionship, and the death of a solar system. Grand Ole Agony also features critically-acclaimed, highly decorated jazz trumpeter Mac Gollehon – noted for his work with David Bowie, Blondie, Onyx, among thousands of others, as well as David Brenner of avant-garde industrial/noise artist Gridfailure, providing intense soundscapes and tortured vocals and dissonance. Delivering haunting string accompaniments are Leslie Fox-Humphreys a.ka. Americana/folk soloist The Bandit Queen Of Sorrows on cello and Ashley Mae of Lost Dog Street Band on violin, and Benjamin Tod of Lost Dog Street Band provides harmonica.
Grand Ole Agony was recorded by THETAN, with all post-production including mixing, mastering, and an animated etching on the vinyl version of the album handled by Dan Emery at Black Matter Mastering. The album is completed with cover art by Kristen Ferrell and photography by Ericka Poore and Joseph Wyman.
With the “Coup De Grace,” single, THETAN declares, “This is our ode to defiant failure. We can’t win all the time, but we sure as shit can go down kicking and screaming. Lose with style.”
Metal Injection writes, “THETAN is now streaming their grinding new single ‘Coup De Grace,’ though grind is only a portion of what you’re getting from this band.”
Unload THETAN’s “Coup De Grace” through Metal Injection RIGHT HERE.
THETAN will release Grand Ole Agony on Etched LP, CD, and digital platforms through Emery’s own Anti-Corporate Music on October 13th. Find preorder options at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp where prior single “God’s America” is streaming HERE.
Official videos and additional previews of Grand Ole Agony will be issued over the weeks ahead.
Following a recent East Coast tour with labelmates Armagideon Time, THETAN continues to play frequently throughout their home region, including a show this weekend with King Parrot Watch for more extensive tour dates to post in the weeks ahead.
THETAN Live:
9/16/2023 Hop Springs – Murfreesboro, TN w/ King Parrot, Ghost Gore
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