Instruments of the Devil LP
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Emusic | Amazon
The most ambitious release to date, Instruments of the Devil captures the emotional reach and aural ambition (not to be confused with blond ambition) of the band. This album carefully balances and puts into opposition grace and fear, optimism and nihilism, clarity and distortion. The band draws on well-known musical influences- pop, noise, post-rock, psych, jazz, shoegazer, prog rock- but estranges them ever so slightly. The music is inspired by the drive to explore and violate boundaries. Lyrically, musically and visually, the album tries to push the listener past expectations and into new expanses. Again painting a vision of terror and loss, but in this case one that is always paired with a promise of beauty and redemption.
12 Song LP. Recorded throughout 2008/09
(With help from Ed Ackerson and Flowers Studio, Peter Anderson, Jane Cords O’Hara, Dan Jeselsohn and Reid Kruger)
Fun Is Near EP
Buy: Bandcamp | iTunes | Emusic | Amazon
This EP was a big step forward; a confident release blending traditional rock anthems with pulsing electronic flourishes helping to further define Artifact Shore’s sound. The EP maintains the bands mix of cynicism, melancholy and anger but incorporates a lush sensitivity that verges on the beautiful. The fact that it holds together while constantly threatening to fall apart testifies to the big leap the band made with Fun Is Near. The title track is still a favorite.
5 Song CD EP. Recorded spring 2007
(With help from Reid Kruger, Justin Malzahn and Geoffrey Trelstad)
Landscape Removal Split CD (Split with linedotstar)
This was released as a split with San Francisco’s linedotstar and the hard copy still exists as such. The Artifact Shore half is a lo-fi, violent, cacophony of an EP. Evoking bleak post-apocalyptic landscapes, and ranges from industrial, frenetic rage to a meticulously layered melancholy. The EP paints a picture of fevered violence, moves effortlessly from catharsis to introspection and forges its own complex and haunted vision of terror and loss. A wild ride indeed!
4 Song CD EP. Recorded winter 2006
(With help from Mark Jorgensen and Geoffrey Trelstad)
Self Titled EP
Buy: Bandcamp
This is an early instrumental EP, was a limited release and came in a black on black letter pressed sleeve. Though unpolished and relatively unfinished this release marked a crucial stage in Artifact Shore’s development and its sensibilities can still be felt in the bands most recent releases. The EP is rooted in big, dark electronic beats met by nuanced guitars and keyboard melodies. Songs tend to build an atmosphere of dread, but are always balanced out by a subtle harmonic counterpoint.
4 Song CD EP. Recorded winter & spring 2005
(With help from Matt Modrow)
The Sleep of Reason Produces Monsters
Buy: Bandcamp
This is an unreleased song that was meant for a compilation that never saw the light of day. It was pretty much a one-off recorded on a cold November day. It is a interesting holdover, yet interesting bridge between the Landscape Removal EP and the Fun Is Near EP.
Recorded winter 2007
On the Banks of Black
Buy: Bandcamp
This is a much more slower and spaced-out demo version of the song that was released on 2007’s Fun Is Near EP. It is more synth-driven and has different lyrics.
Recorded winter 2006/7
indierockselfslayer
Buy: Bandcamp
The original non-vocal, noise version. It was initially released on limited holiday release called Welcome Home (oop). Then was released on a split 7” (still available) and CD (oop) with Bravo Team (Minneapolis) under the name ‘The Isolationist’. And has seen many incarnations for live and demo purposes and now finds itself completely overhauled on the Instruments of the Devil release.
Recorded summer 2004
Our Hands Were Held While We Bled
Buy: Bandcamp
This is the first recorded Artifact Shore song ever! A complete experiment in equipment, structure, you name it. It was released on the (very labor-intensive) 7 color screen printed compilation, entitled Interference on the InterferenceShift label that we used to run. It featured a multi-artist poetry book and music from lindotstar (San Francisco, U.S.), Isaacs (London, England), Heathen Noise (Malaga, Spain), The Lazy (Munich, Germany) and Artifact Shore (at the time Minneapolis, U.S.). There may be a few of these around otherwise it is out of print.
Recorded spring 2004