Name: Reason In Decline
Brand: Archers Of Loaf

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

67385507952

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Colour

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music US

Limited edition

Release date

2022-10-21

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

673855079523

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Total Cap

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

673855079509

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Red / Purple Swirl Vinyl

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Download code: Yes

Extended format: Yes

1 / Extended format: Yes / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / red

67385507951

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Black

673855079516

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1 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Archers Of Loaf

Genre US

Rock-Pop

Label US

Merge Records

Archers of Loaf is an American rock band from North Carolina formed in 1991. The group disbanded in 1998 and Eric Bachmann went on to pursue a solo career, while Matt Gentling supported Superchunk (also from North Carolina) during one of their tours among other things. 
The group reformed in 2011 and played a number of concerts and made a television appearance. In a 2018 interview with Eric Bachmann, he said all of the members of Archers of Loaf are on board with the idea of reforming and making a new record, saying "Oh yeah, everybody wants to do it — I just have to write the songs."

Selection: The Edit

As sculpted shards of guitar—tumbling, tolling, squalling—shower the jittery bounce of a piano on opener “Human,” it’s obvious that Reason in Decline, Archers of Loaf’s first album in 24 years, will be more than a nostalgic, low-impact reboot. When they emerged from North Carolina’s ’90s indie-punk incubator, the Archers’ hurtling, sly, gloriously dissonant roar was a mythologized touchstone of slacker-era refusal. But this is an entirely different noise. In fact, it’s a startling revelation. Reason in Decline will be released worldwide by Merge Records on October 21st, 2022.

A few distinctions between 2022 Archers and the Clinton-era crew—whose “South Carolina” could be heard blaring out of Jordan Catalano’s car radio on ABC teen-angst epic My So-Called Life. First, guitarists Eric Bachmann and Eric Johnson, once headstrong smartasses inciting a series of artful pileups on the band’s four studio albums and EP, are now a fluidly complementary, sonically advanced unit. Notably, Johnson’s signature trebly lines peal clearly above the din instead of struggling to be heard. Second, singer-songwriter Bachmann, after throat surgery, relearned how to sing (this time from his diaphragm); as a result, he no longer howls like the angriest head cold on the Eastern Seaboard. And now, his lyrics balance righteous wrath with a complex tangle of adult perspective. He still spits bile, but it’s less likely to concern scene politics, music trends, or shady record labels thwarting the dreams of a young rock band. Bachmann puts it bluntly: “What I really think about going back to the Archers and doing a new record is that the three other members of this band are awesome. It’s not about responding to the past or whatever our bullshit legacy is. I just wanted to work with these guys because I knew the chemistry we had and that we still have. I knew that was rare. I didn’t care what it ended up sounding like.” Archers of Loaf’s first tour of duty ended after 1998’s White Trash Heroes. The album did not raise the band’s once touted commercial roof, and the members—Bachmann, Johnson, bassist Matt Gentling, and drummer Mark Price started drifting in different directions with other projects &amp; real life. Price was unable to play without extreme pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Bachmann itched to try a different musical approach. Everyone was tapped out in one way or another. Though the four remained good friends and convened for occasional reunion gigs (to support Merge’s 2011–12 album reissues, for instance), they never worked on new music. Gentling had joined Band of Horses; Johnson, now a criminal defense attorney in Asheville, North Carolina, contributed guitar to projects when he had the time. On his own, Bachmann thrived, releasing 11 albums of atmospheric, folky rock/pop under his own name or “group” moniker Crooked Fingers. In recent years, he’d toured as a sideman/foil for torch-country star Neko Case. But chemistry is a funny thing, as Archers had the good fortune of learning following the recording of two different 7-inches of new material— Raleigh Days / Street Fighting Man (released on Record Store Day 2020) &amp; Talking Over Talk. Despite playing together only a handful of times live during their hiatus (mostly playing older material), the band knew there was still something to be unpacked. Their work wasn't finished. They're older &amp; smarter. Still pissed, no doubt (how could anyone not be right now?), but able to process that anger &amp; turn it into a mature, staggering piece of guitar art. Merge Records &amp; Archers of Loaf are proud to present to you the Reason in Decline.

Reason In Decline

Music US