Have a Nice Life: Deathconsciousness (2LP+book) [FLENSER]

Why you'll love it

This Flenser edition puts the double album on 180g vinyl in a thick case-wrapped gatefold jacket, with the 70-plus page book. Made in Connecticut for under $1,000, it grew into a cult classic through word of mouth online.

This edition

• 2LP set
• 180g vinyl
• Case-wrapped gatefold jacket
• 70+ page book included

About the album

Deathconsciousness found its audience without any help from the music press, one forum post and one shared download at a time. Dan Barrett and Tim Macuga had been making music together in Middletown, Connecticut since 2000, starting on two acoustic guitars and sharing home recordings on Myspace, with early demos that leaned toward new wave and The Sisters of Mercy.

The album is a sprawling, heavy-hearted mix of post-punk, shoegaze and drone. "A Quick One Before The Eternal Worm Devours Connecticut" opens in a fog, "Bloodhail" builds a slow-burning anthem out of a drum machine and a wall of guitars, "The Big Gloom" and "Hunter" stretch out, and "Earthmover" closes it on a huge, grinding swell. The Flenser reissue gives it a new layout by Niels Geybels with fresh text from the band.

Their second album The Unnatural World followed in 2014, and by 2017 they were playing with a full live band, sharing a festival bill with The Chameleons. "Waiting For Black Metal Records To Come In The Mail" may be the most relatable song title ever written, at least for anyone who's worked our receiving desk.

Also at Kops: more Have a Nice Life on vinyl · browse Alternative

Tracklist

Listen

On The Flenser (cat# FR42), a reissue of the 2008 album.