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News : Premiere: Hark unveil new track, “Disintegrate”, from forthcoming album

By on January 4, 2017
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Photo: Owen G Richards

Here at Metal Obsession, we’re very proud to have our first premiere for the year be with the next track reveal from Welsh act, Hark. November last year saw us dip into the band’s first track premiere for “Fortune Favours the Insane” off their forthcoming second album, Machinations. Due out February 24th this year via Season of Mist, Machinations works to its strengths in sludge-rock.

Statement by Jimbob Isaac:

“Disintegrate is a multi-layered response to odorous people and insidious systems, who aim to destroy you in everyday life. This was the first song that Joe (Harvatt) put his lead guitar work to, during the writing of ‘Machinations’ and he melted my mind with his skills. This is some of my favourite lead guitar of all time, seriously.”

We’re very proud to present the Australian premiere for “Disintegrate”. Check it out below!

With their second full-length ‘Machinations’, HARK deliver a perfectly crafted vision of sludge-infused hard rock, while further expanding on their simultaneously progressive and muscular sonic palette.

‘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!

Tracklist

1. Fortune Favours The Insane

2. Disintegrate

3. Nine Fates

4. Speak In Tongues

5. Transmutation

6. Son Of Pythagoras

7. Premonitions

8. Comnixant 3.0

9. The Purge

Lineup 

Jimbob Isaac: guitars, vocals

Joe Harvatt: guitars

Tom Shortt: bass

Simon Bonwick: drums

Available formats 

Digipak CD

Gatefold LP in various colours

You can pre-order Machinations now!

PRE-ORDER HERE

hark-machinations

‘Machinations’, out February 24 via Season of Mist

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.