After touring solidly across North America, the UK, and Europe for the last several years, the bearded men of Junius are currently working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist (on The Mylene Sheath worldwide and Make My Day Records in Europe).
The past year has seen Junius touring extensively in support of both The Martyrdom and their new split 10" with Juarez (Us Two Records), recently touring and playing with the likes of Valient...
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After touring solidly across North America, the UK, and Europe for the last several years, the bearded men of Junius are currently working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist (on The Mylene Sheath worldwide and Make My Day Records in Europe).
The past year has seen Junius touring extensively in support of both The Martyrdom and their new split 10" with Juarez (Us Two Records), recently touring and playing with the likes of Valient Thorr, Howl, Orbs, Rosetta, Battlefields, Tombs, City of Ships, Caspian, Irepress, Mastodon, Bad Religion, and many others.
Junius has been electrifying rapt audiences with its spellbinding walls of reverb-drenched guitars, haunting vocals and self-made lights since 2003. The band's music is both cinematic and accessible, building to crescendos which echo some of Post Rock's most epic moments, but with vocals, hooks, and lyrics creating focus throughout. While Junius can be tough to categorize (they've been called a hybrid of Neurosis and The Smiths by Rolling Stone), band members have cited such artists as Bedhead (Junius singer/guitarist Joseph E. Martinez's uncle Trini was their drummer), Philip Glass, Hum, and M83 among a long list of inspirations.
Shortly after releasing their first EP, Forcing Out The Silence, in 2004, Junius began a tireless touring regimen to fan the flames of an already blazing press. Among its accolades, Disclosure Magazine declared the debut "one of the most engaging Dark Rock albums to come out since Joy Division last graced a stage." Junius toured for over 9 months and played over 200 shows in the first year alone, embracing a DIY ethic which remains at the core of the band's ideology.
Both the debut EP and its 2005 follow-up, Blood is Bright (released as a self-titled full-length in 2007), were recorded by Will Benoit (of Constants), and mastered by Nick Zampiello (Isis, Converge, Torche). Hailed as a “darkly lush epic” by Alternative Press and “genius” by The Big Takeover, Junius’ work is borne of experiments in isolation and asceticism. It’s this austere approach from one of America's hardest working bands that adds a weighty sense of purpose and intrigue to their output.
Preparation for the long-awaited The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist began in 2006, with month-long writing sessions in such unconventional locales as a bank vault in California, a warehouse in Texas, a farmhouse in Vermont, and a shack in the swamps of Louisiana. The result is a full-fledged concept album, inspired by the life and theories of controversial scholar Immanuel Velikovsky.
From birth to death, The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist chronicles a man whose progressive theories on ancient history and the cosmos were widely challenged by mainstream academia during his lifetime. Actual quotes from Velikovsky's interviews and lectures are interspersed between songs, adding to the narrative.
Junius produced The Martyrdom at the legendary A&M Records studios in Hollywood (now known as Henson Recording) over the course of a year, somewhat guerilla-style, during off-hours when the studio wasn't booked. The album was recorded by Kevin Mills and Tom Syrowski (Weezer, AFI) and mastered by Dave Collins (Danny Elfman, Black Sabbath). It includes a book illustrated by Matt Gauck and Drew Speziale (Circle Takes The Square).
Some of Junius' recent extracurriculars include lending music to a series of short films by director Mary Lambert (Pet Semetary), participating in a benefit compilation to support Compassion Over Killing, and recently recording a track for the upcoming Songs of Farewell and Departure: A Tribute to Hum (Pop Up Records), which will be available mid-2011.
"A perfect hybrid of Neurosis and The Smiths, striking a stunning balance of brutality and beauty. Spellbinding and heartbreaking, gripping from the first note to the last. A hard rock dream come true." - Rolling Stone
"A rich, immersive experience, a bleak jewel of a record that takes obsession as its theme and rewards it in equal measure." - Pitchfork
"Nothing short of breathtaking. 9/10" - Rock Sound
"Beautifully crafted, genuinely intellectual, and deeply moving." - Alternative Press
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