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News : Premiere: Hark unveil the first track from their new album, ‘Machinations’

By on November 23, 2016

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Welsh four-piece, Hark are gearing up for the release of their second full-length album, Machinations. Due out February 24th 2017 via Season of Mist, Machinations is a well crafted piece of sludge-infused hard rock.

Mastermind Jimbob Isaac comments: “Our premiere track ‘Fortune Favours the Insane’ was the first song written for the new album and is lyrically based around those fine lines between commitment to your art and the brain-splitting madness that it can sometimes push you towards. ‘I ain’t been over the edge…but I’ve seen it’.”

Metal Obsession are very proud to present the first track premiere for “Fortune Favours The Insane” off the forthcoming new album. Check it out below!

Lineup 

Jimbob Isaac: guitars, vocals

Joe Harvatt: guitars

Tom Shortt: bass

Simon Bonwick: drums

You can pre-order Machinations now!

PRE-ORDER HERE

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‘Machinations’, out February 24 2017 via Season of Mist

Available formats

Digipak CD

Gatefold LP in various colours

‘Machinations’ is an intelligent, forward-thinking rock record, in an age where cult nostalgia trips and retrogressive throwbacks are all too common. Taking

cues from Jimbob Isaac’s sludge metal legacy in Welsh underground heroes TAINT.

In addition to Simon Bonwick’s bombastic drumming, the hard-hitting rockers have meanwhile expanded their line-up to include the virtuoso chops of lead guitarist Joe Harvatt, while bassist Tom Shortt holds the low end down with weighty grind and dexterity. HARK v2.0 is now officially in widescreen. They offer a holistic, collective approach to inventive song craft and beautifully precise pummelling.

HARK’s acclaimed debut ‘Crystalline’ (2014) displayed a maturity hardly expected from a debut, with global critical acclaim dubbing it a ‘game changer’ in the sludge and stoner rock sphere. ‘Machinations’ was recorded with Andy Hawkins at The Nave (Leeds, UK) and Gethin Pearson at The Bassment of Sonic Architecture (Pontypool, UK). Mixing is handled this time by Pearson, Harvatt and Isaac, while James Plotkin (SUNN O))), ISIS, KHANATE) takes on mastering duties. With this dedicated, hands-on approach, ‘Machinations’ will allow HARK to further spread their wing into spheres unknown.

Jimbob Isaac’s soaring and gritty lead vocals convey the existential angst of living in the media saturated and economically unstable climate from which ‘Machinations’ was born. His fragmented and deeply subconscious lyrical flow, talks of abstracted emotions, spiritual disintegration, toxic encounters, psychic endeavours, and technological overload. Isaac’s complex prose is woven into a sonic tapestry created by he and his band mates that will make heavy rock listeners stand to attention.

Isaac also envelopes this record with his distinctive artwork, creating a pen and ink space-scape, an all-enveloping world of machinated beauty and a fine line near-future. Truly anchoring and expanding the HARK universe in all its pointillised, detailed splendour.

Having honed their live act on tours with the likes of CLUTCH, RED FANG, PRONG, KEN mode and A STORM OF LIGHT, HARK are a genuine force to be reckoned with. Following praised appearances at renowned festivals such as Roadburn, Hellfest, Summer Breeze, Bloodstock, and Damnation, the Welsh heavy rockers have clearly succeeded in transforming their live energy into ‘Machinations’. This newly incarnated quartet is ready to conquer the world!

About

Jonathon is an aspiring fantasy/sci-fi novelist and music journalist. Thanks to the influence of the music he grew up with, he has always possessed a keen interest in metal and rock. He is also a huge fan of mythology, legend, and folklore from all across the world. You should follow him on Twitter.