Two of the West Coasts most intriguing bands have paired up for this special split LP showcasing new material from each group that push the boundaries of heavy and abrasive music. On one side is HAUNTED HORSES, from the Pacific Northwest. Hot on the heels of releasing their exceptional new LP Dweller (on the 31G label) their tracks are a blend of two different sessions between 2021 and 2023. Originally existing as a duo of vocalist/electronics manipulator Colin Dawson and drummer Myke Pelly Haunted Horses has expanded over the last few years to include bassist Brian McClelland (Filth Is Eternal) to add pulverizing low end to their harsh industrial punk. Pulsing screeches co-exist along eerie sound textures and a pounding rhythm that may be 'noise' to some, but the songs are there under all the grime, and those that love their punk to be forward-thinking will enjoy this. FACET emerged in 2019 in Oakland and got underway immediately, recording a demo, going on tour, and then releasing their debut LP through Hex Records in 2023. They have done extensive touring since that time and the five new tracks they contribute to this record are some of their heaviest material to date. Facet take all the odd melody, bizarre guitar effects, and moody disposition of bands like Unwound and Quicksand and then crank it all up via heaps of distortion, ungodly volume, and a mess of feedback. Their debut LP showcased all those elements yet with a very polished production. This one emphasizes the grit and pushes it to the limit. As with all splits through Hex this also takes a unique approach to packaging and presentation. Artist Paul Rentler was brought on to create patterned visuals for a jacket, which is then wrapped in a die-cut 'mask' for each side of the album- a horse (for Haunted Horses) and a duck (the chosen mascot of Facet). It also comes on two different variants of colored vinyl to match the color schemes of the artwork.
