Out today! SO HIDEOUS’ orchestral post-metal masterpiece “Laurestine”

SO HIDEOUS‘ sophomore album, “Laurestine,” is out today via Prosthetic Records. As a 10/10 review in Outburn Magazine puts it, “SO HIDEOUS has delivered one of the most sublime and beautiful collections of 2015… A record that really is in a class of its own.” Stream “Laurestine” in its entirety, here.

Buy “Laurestine” from Prosthetic Records, here.
Buy “Laurestine” from iTunes, here.
Buy “Laurestine” from Amazon, here.
Buy “Laurestine” from Bandcamp, here.
Buy merch from the band’s official store, here.

Recorded with a 30-piece orchestra accompanying the core band of composer/guitarist Brandon Cruz, vocalist/bassist Christopher Cruz, guitarist Etienne Vazquez and drummer Danny Moncada, “Laurestine” is a breathtaking ride, a cinematic epic that tells a story of one dying man’s ascent toward an afterlife.

Taking inspiration from film scores, black metal and the post-rock of bands like Envy and Mono, “Laurestine” is a supremely intense, confident musical statement from glorious start to finish. One continuous piece of music divided into seven chapters, the album traverses a full range of dynamics and emotions, from the fragile to the majestic to the devastating.

“Laurestine” was recorded by Dean Baltulonis (Lucero, Sick of It All) and by Chris Montgomery (Lily Allen, Mumford & Sons). It follows SO HIDEOUS‘ 2013 debut full-length, “Last Poem/First Light.”

A record release show is set for October 24th at legendary DIY performance space ABC No Rio in the band’s hometown of New York City. Info, here.

“Envy-with-blastbeats… the symphonic tracks add depth and scope to the band’s extroverted guitar melodies.”
–Stereogum

“SO HIDEOUS blends metal, ambient and classical sounds on their second LP, Laurestine… A complete vision worth listening to in one sitting.”
– AllMusic

“SO HIDEOUS has delivered one of the most sublime and beautiful collections of 2015… A record that really is in a class of its own.”
– Outburn Magazine

“Metal heavily influenced by the sound of film scores… Atmospheric bliss.”
– Mass Appeal

“Strikingly beautiful… Balancing raw and emotive black metal and orchestral arrangements, SO HIDEOUS take the listener on a journey through death while demonstrating the beauty inherent to life’s harrowing final chapter.”
–Exclaim!

“Devastating, end-of-the-world type shit, putting screamo, post-rock, and atmospheric black metal in a blender and really letting those modern classical influences shine with the orchestral parts.”
–Brooklyn Vegan

“A strong orchestral presence… Citing Beethoven as an influence, [guitarist/composer Brandon] Cruz has also described SO HIDEOUS‘ music as soundtrack scores for movies that don’t exist yet.”
–Invisible Oranges

“The band’s unique take on post-metal is lush, stunning and haunting… Truly one of a kind… Call it Picasso in corpse pant or Danny Elfman by way of Emperor, or just call it the most beautiful metal album in recent memory.”
–New Noise

“A sound that is beautiful, chilling, and absolutely invigorating… “Laurestine” is surely among the year’s best albums, regardless of what category or genre one might place them in.”
–Heavy Blog Is Heavy

“Serene yet utterly barbaric soundscapes… Its complex time signatures and cinematic quality pushes the band above and beyond their contemporaries.”
–The Monolith

“Over the last few years, American black metal has had a bit of a miniature renaissance… SO HIDEOUS may be the furthest off the map out of all these bands. Not for their chamber orchestrations, recurring thematic material, odd-time signatures, or broad conceptual scope – all of that stuff is written into the DNA of metal. What makes this band stand out is how they apply all of those elements in service of an artistic message.”
–Gear Gods