THE L SHAPED MAN

Description

Forget everything you think you know about Ceremony. The five Californians are back with ‘The L-Shaped Man’, a new album that sees the band redefine its sound in a surprising way, far from the punk – hardcore roots of its beginnings. Steeped in melancholy, this fifth studio effort explores singer Ross Farrar’s profound loneliness and despair following a breakup. But far from falling into an emotional pastiche, Farrar focuses his writing on his inner struggle to overcome this pain and redefine himself without his loved one. Less furious, Ceremony has lost none of its intensity. An explosion is never far away, but a redemptive darkness eventually takes hold of the 11 tracks to deliver the essence of seething despair. From the second track, ‘Exit Fears’, a meticulous bass accompanied by a minimalist guitar delivers its darkest flavors. The band clearly embraces its post-punk influences, Joy Division at the forefront, and with ‘The L-Shaped Man’ delivers its most accomplished album, pushed into its corners by lovesick despair, often synonymous with wonderful albums.