Idle Heirs, a two-piece band from the Kansas City area, is a tight-knit unit that hums with creativity and revels in the freedom of creating exactly what their hearts desire. The duo, comprised of Coalesce’s Sean Ingram and musician/producer Josh Barber, is set to release Life Is Violence (Relapse Records) on April 11.
Idle Heirs shares the first taste of music from their Life Is Violence debut album: “Rare Bird.”
Life Is Violence was recorded at Ocean Sound studio in Norway— something of a bucket list adventure, given Barber’s fondness of Cult of Luna. Indulging in the freedom that came with creating without restriction or expectation, the pair decamped to the icy Norwegian wilderness with five collaborators to lay down the eight tracks. The isolation of the studio and the absence of external pressures allowed for unparalleled clarity and exacting level of attention to detail.
Idle Heirs have created a post-metal album that captures a certain vulnerability within its mournful sound. Ingram attributes this to the fact that throughout its creation, even as the songs themselves were taking shape and coming to life, the album was still not recorded with an audience in mind. Assuming that it would never be heard beyond his closest circle of friends allowed a disarming honesty to permeate the songs.
Alongside this, there’s a leftfield turn for anyone expecting only to hear his familiar throat-shredding vocals: on Life Is Violence, Ingram uses a broader range of vocal styles, a development of his craft that required considerable training. The unguarded approach and differing vocal delivery allow slivers of optimism to counter the desperation and tension; even in darkness light can sometimes be found.
Pre-order Life Is Violence here.
Idle Heirs, live:
Feb. 07 Philadelphia, PA – Subterranean Dissonance Fest
Feb. 08 New York, NY – TV Eye
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Photo courtesy of Tom Funk.
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