Low Roar is a three-piece from Reykjavik that offers up a beautiful landscape of sound, presumably inspired by the beautiful landscape of nature that surrounds them.
California-born Ryan Karazija is Low Roar, together with Iceland natives Logi Guðmundsson and Leifur Björnsson. Six years ago, Karazija made the decision to move to Iceland. Three years later he released the first Low Roar record. And now we are zeroing on the release day of the new album, 0. It is to be self-released record that will be out on 8 July, containing 13 tracks and funded by the fans, via PledgeMusic.
Evoking an essense of pure beauty
The selected tracks from the album that have been shared so far evoke the essence of pure beauty of an infused Icelandic experience with a sense of bewilderment of life gone by. Layers of talent and emotion see tracks crafted that are at once melancholic and exhilerating.
With synths that sculpt a soaring sound and a familar glockenspiel that I once played (yes, the very one that is on the album; at a gig in Utrecht with Leifur, but that’s a whole other story), the latest track to be released ‘I’m Leaving’ showcases Karazija’s delicate vocals beautifully. It constrasts with the opposing (in title and tone) track ‘I’ll Keep Coming’ that has a more grungy, electro sound.
Non-faltering soundscape
The third track from the album that we can have a taster of is ‘Breathe In’. A non-faltering soundscape of impossible beauty that almost makes it hard to breathe (which is likely how the title came to be, to remind the listener to take a breath). This has an added level of beauty thanks to the orchestral strings, provided courtesy of fellow Reykjavikians amiina. (Note: there is also an extra track ‘Breathe Out’ available to pledgers.)
0 is available for pre-order now via the band’s PledgeMusic page. Just following the album’s release, Low Roar will perform at All Tomorrow’s Parties Iceland in Keflavik, Iceland (10–12 July). What a fitting album release party!
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