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"It is a rare and exciting opportunity to come across a band that is working as a virtually unknown entity but with a fully-realized sonic aesthetic. Girih is just such a band. Having cut their teeth in the Boston scene in bands like Actor | Observer, Shot Heard Around The World and Next To Fall, the members of Girih come into this project well-seasoned and ready to unleash the next evolution of their collective musical journey. Already building a reputation in the greater Boston area for a startlingly powerful live performance, Girih is now prepared to make their debut to the world.

Eigengrau is a 6-song Masters' class in dynamic textures and forceful riffing. It features an uncanny and intoxicating balance of the driving aggression of post-metal and the graceful melody of post-rock, with just a dash of the fretboard wizardry common to math rock. It's this ability to blend styles that sets Girih a notch above; avoiding the one-note pitfalls inherent in prescribing to a single genre style, they invite a larger audience to appreciate the work they've created. Their heavily-textured sound translates impressively to their live performance, boosted by their expert use of looping and layering on stage. Beyond their finely-tuned aural tapestry, they find other ways to engage fans by planting secrets and Easter eggs within their visual material, leading ultimately to a number of intriguing buried treasures. But you'll have to explore further to discover what that's all about." — A1KA Music

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Eigengrau by Girih on 180g colored vinyl. Comes on black & white vinyl mix with transparent red splatter, 350g cover and special braille insert. Limited to 125 copies. US edition at the A Thousand Arms store comes with yellow/orange splatter.

This is a pre-order. Release is scheduled for Nov. 16th, 2018. Orders containing this album will be shipped by then.

For those post-rock enthusiasts who find themselves concerned about heading down paths characterized by reserved rhythmic tendencies or a lack of dynamic flourishes, rejoice in your discovery of jeffk, the heroes you’ve been waiting for. This is groove-heavy, low-end focused instrumental music with foundations in metal that also features well-placed emphasis on more traditional upbeat rock stylings. Functioning as a three piece, there is a necessary tightening of the compositional approach, making the chemistry displayed between each member paramount. The result is an inspiring fusion of drum and bass fueled swagger and post-rock textures.

Transposing drone concepts over riff-rock, jeffk builds sonic landscapes which utilize repetition as a tool to both crush listeners and inspire cathartic physical release (in the world outside of post-rock some refer to this action as “dancing”). The band takes the necessary time to construct their rhythmic patterns, but each track always feels like it is moving forward toward compelling ends. Careful listeners will also find themselves fascinated by the ease with which the bass vacillates between building the rhythm and accentuating the guitar melodies, acting as the agent of cohesion between two unique stylistic approaches. Inadequate shelter is a bright beam of light bursting through the cloud of familiarity, pulling the listener out of the prosaic haze and giving them something to get moving for.

jeffk is making their dunk!records debut with the release of inadequate shelter; for those listeners in America just becoming excitedly acquainted with the band, A Thousand Arms will be handling US distribution, so place your shipping cost worries at ease. — David Zeidler (Young Epoch)

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In many ways, the Madrid post-metal trio Le Temps Du Loup are the quintessential dunk!records band, displaying an ability to confidently engage more melodic terrain but propelled primarily by a heavy hammer that is primed to drop on listeners’ skulls at any moment. Their journey is one of grim determination to ascend the heights suggested by the weighty thematic content breached in their song titles, which explore cosmic encounters, grandiose cities lost within the Earth and numerous references to apocalyptic events.

Cardinal is a major step in the compositional advancement of Le Temps Du Loup. As their moniker itself indicates, their music is not as much about the calm before the storm as it is the sonic representation of the moment at which one sees the maelstrom encroach upon their doorstep, and the tempestuous experience of becoming enveloped by that instant. There are occasions of understated beauty and more nuanced delivery (“Agartha”), of probing, careful curiosity (“Karellen I – Contact”), and even occurrences of upbeat groove hurtling into space rock territory (“Eulerian”). But be always aware, as every track finds its way to crushing crescendos that favor a bruising rhythm section and crushing riffs that pull zero punches.

Produced by Carlos Santos (Toundra, Jardin De La Croix) and mastered by Brad Boatright (Converge, Mutoid Man), Cardinal feels and sounds gigantic, embodying numerous beloved hallmarks of post-metal. From vitriolic power riffing to contemplative melodic explorations, from deliberate, forceful, low end-driven builds to dizzying climactic heights, this is a record that places Le Temps Du Loup in the conversation with modern giants of the form, and adds another rock solid resident to the dunk!records family.

— text by David Zeidler

Cardinal was released on September 4th 2018 by Belgian label dunk!records and Spanish labels Aloud Music, Pundonor Records and The Braves Records in both vinyl and CD.

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Last week we pressed Exoplanet by Stories From The Lost on 180g vinyl in two beautiful color variants: Gold/Black (50 copies) and Dark Green (80 copies). This is the first vinyl release for Stories From The Lost and the first in house pressing for dunk!records. So we can surely speak of a historical moment at dunk!HQ.

A little bit more about this album

Though they began life in 2011, the Belgian post-metal group Stories From The Lost are beginning an exciting life anew after a host of lineup changes and sonic developments since their debut For Clouds. Originally working from an instrumental template, the band folded a focus on electronic sounds into their metal foundations. As time progressed and new members joined the mix, the band eventually re-shaped themselves into the fully-realized unit that has now emerged with the release of their third album Exoplanet, which they unleashed to the (digital) world on 1 December 2017.

While the electronics remain as an integral piece of the puzzle, the band has come forth with a richer palette of sounds for this release, featuring snarling riffs and a dual vocal attack courtesy of guitarist Mathieu Vanlandtschoote and bassist Kurt Vanlandtschoote. Adding textures to their chugging, guttural sound is guitarist Glenn De Loor, while founding member Wout Lievens holds down the rhythm section with his focused drumming and provides the electronic elements and samples. Besides Lievens, one carryover from the band’s early days is the presence of Tobias Stieler (Kokomo), who mastered Expoplanet, while recording and mixing was handled by Jannes Van Rossom as Deaftone Studio.

On Exoplanet listeners can find enticing stylistic blends of post-metal and post-rock (most noticeable on the standout track Minkowski), powerfully heavy soundscapes accented by electronics and vocal samples (Obey the Martians), as well as soaring, emotional passages such as those found on Bleak Daylight. This is Stories From The Lost’s magnum opus to this juncture, the culmination of 6 years of sonic expansion and redefinition of artistic purpose. The power and confidence with which these songs approach their audience reveal a creative chemistry between members that has allowed them to propel light years beyond previous releases, utilizing an arsenal of punishing riffs and carefully measured grooves that will both batter and bewitch the listener.

— Text by David Zeidler

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We're very excited to share the news that from now on we will be pressing all of our releases with our own hands. In our own pressing plant!

Nine months after we started building the space we can now happily say this pressing plant is up and running.