THETAN: Nashville Powerviolence Duo To Release Grand Ole Agony
Photographer: Ericka PoorePowerviolence, an ultrafast and dissonant hardcore punk subgenre is currently exemplified by Nashville, TN duo Thetan. Chad L'Eplattenier (drums, theremin), and Dan Emery (bass, theremin, vocals, mountain dulcimer) have taken powerviolence to a new level by adding elements of black metal into their sound. Thetan are also considered a crossover act due to their collaborations with hip-hop artists such as Kool Keith, Ultramagnetic MCs, and LIL B. These elements as well as psychedelia are heard in Thetan’s newest LP Grand Ole Agony.
Due out this October on Thetan’s own label, Anti-Corporate Music, Grand Ole Agony is packed with the most outré of musical collaborations. Crunchy Black of Oscar-winning hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia provides a monologue at the beginning of the album. The highly respected jazz trumpeter Mac Gollehon whose past collaborators include David Bowie, Blondie, and Onyx, adds Thetan to that already impressive list with an appearance on Grand Ole Agony. Industrial/noise artist David Brenner of the group Gridfailure provides vocals and soundscapes. Americana and folk music are also represented on Grand Ole Agony by Leslie Fox-Humphreys a.k.a. The Bandit Queen Of Sorrows on cello, Ashley Mae of Lost Dog Street Band on violin, and Benjamin Tod of Lost Dog Street Band on harmonica.
Grand Ole Agony Track Listing: 1. God’s America 2. Blackened Inside 3. White Sheets Blowing In The Breeze 4. Bless Your Heart 5. Gutted 6. Sad Endings And A Feeling Of Disappointment 7. Coup De Grace 8. Culo 9. Note To Self 10. EulogyGrand Ole Agony touches on subject matter both personal and cosmic. Among the blistering chaos of distorted bass and drumbeats are songs dealing with issues of loss of companions and mental illness as well as the death of a solar system. Dan Emery at Black Matter Mastering handled all post-production including mixing and mastering Grand Ole Agony. Emery even provided an animated etching on the vinyl version of the album. Cover art is by Kristen Ferrell and photographs are by Ericka Poore and Joseph Wyman.
The first single off Grand Ole Agony is the iconoclastic track, “God’s America.” The song deals with Thetan’s distaste for reactionary mindsets that plague many Americans today.
Photographer: Riley Johnson“Growing up in the south I’ve dealt with ignorant assholes and their proud bravado ‘patriotism’ for as long as I can remember,” said Dan Emery. “In the early 2000s, it hit a fever pitch, and everyone was on some serious, ‘If you aren’t one of us, fuck you,’ mentality. It really molded my attitude and reinforced my rebellious nature as I entered adulthood. Being into angsty music was beginning to have a real-life purpose. This song is a cynical reflection of that misplaced pride that has been creeping up in the common American psyche more and more over the past few years. This is a disgusting song about a disgusting mindset that we just can’t seem to escape.”
Thetan just completed an East Coast tour with labelmates Armagideon Time but plans to go back on the road to promote Grand Ole Agony later this year. In the meantime, Thetan plans to release more music videos and audio previews of Grand Ole Agony within the next few weeks.
