Intronaut: Back, and Stronger Than Ever
A lot can change in five years. Governments, relationships, even decades can move on in that time. Los Angeles’ INTRONAUT know this better than anyone. The intervening time between the release of 2015’s The Direction Of Last Things and the present has seen a multitude of change for the band, from a change of label to the much publicised (and entirely necessary) removal of a founding member, and the hiatus and settling period that followed.
But five years is long enough. INTRONAUT are back, packing a new focus, new member and a new album in the shape of Fluid Existential Inversions. And, as guitarist Dave Timnick tells it, the band are thrilled to be making their comeback. “It feels great! Its been a very interesting five plus years since our last album, and we’re all very excited about this next chapter for our band.” Although he acknowledges the rough ride they’ve had, Timnick sees it as a growth period. “We’ve all been through a lot, both as a band and as human beings. Some of it great, some not so much, but I think we’ve come out of it a lot stronger and more inspired than ever.”
Fluid Existential Inversions, the band’s sixth full length release, takes INTRONAUT‘s year’s honed blend of jazz-infused prog-sludge and reinvigorated the formula. “I think it’s also the most powerful and evolved collection of songs we’ve ever put together,” says Timnick. As always (and as is abundantly clear from the title), the album deals with hefty themes and lofty ideas. “Some of the lyrical themes have to do with the concept of running out of time,” Timnick explains. “What we choose to do with our existence shapes our experience in life, and assuages our fears whilst encircled by death.”
While INTRONAUT have been essentially off the grid for half a decade, they set out on the road to the latest record almost four years ago. “We started writing back in 2016, and then we had a bit of break that lasted almost two years,” says Timnick. “We all just needed to take some time, figure some of our personal shit out, and rediscover our passion for the music we make together.”
Though the creative core of the band has remained the same, Timnick alongside founder members Joe Lester [bass] and Sacha Dunable [guitars, vocals], their sixth record has seen INTRONAUT embrace the new, with Alex Rudinger [of WHITECHAPEL and THE FACELESS fame] putting in time behind the kit. How did he come to be involved? “We’ve known Alex for years, and obviously his reputation precedes him,” Timnick explains. “He brought a fresh approach and an unrivalled skill set to the table, and I think it helped make this the most interesting and brutal album we’ve ever put out.”
The album really is a combination of the old and the new, from working with Kurt Ballou [CONVERGE] in the production seat to having Ben Sharp [CLOUDKICKER] appear as a guest musician. How did the band end up working with two such luminaries? “We’ve wanted to work with Kurt Ballou for a while now, and it finally came together on this record,” says Timnick. “Ben Sharp is our spirit animal and making music with him is something we will always find a way to do!”
Typical of INTRONAUT, much consideration and planning has gone into every facet of Fluid Existential Inverstions – the record is being released in an impressive variety of limited edition vinyl colours, something Timnick sees as a reaction to the pervasiveness of music streaming culture. “With the extreme accessibility to all music at all times that we enjoy in these modern times, anything we can do to make an release stand out is worth doing. Plus they look awesome.”
While INTRONAUT‘s return on record is exciting enough, their pending return to stages is an even more welcome one; a reciprocal feeling between band and fans alike, as Timnick tells it. “We are so excited to get back out on the road”, he says of their upcoming US dates with Swedish post-metal titans CULT OF LUNA and the genre bucking EMMA RUTH RUNDLE. “We toured with CULT OF LUNA several years back, and we love those guys, so this is probably going to be a lot of fun. I’m also personally a big fan EMMA RUTH RUNDLE, and can’t wait to see her perform her solo music.” While the logistics of dipping their collective toes back into touring life on home soil make all kinds of sense, fans of the band outside of the states won’t have to wait too long to have their brains twisted in the near future. “We’re playing Bangalore Open Air in India on March 21st, Domination Fest in Mexico City on May 1st, and then there will surely be some touring in Europe shortly thereafter. More details about that coming soon!”
Fluid Existential Inversions is out now via Metal Blade Records.
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