Shearling, Straya

Serving as a spiritual continuation of the now-defunct Sprain, Shearling exhibits the reunion of a now decade-old collaborative force between guitarists Alexander Kent and Sylvie Simmmons. A subsequent recruiting of percussionist Andrew Chanover, bassist Wesley Nelson, and Keyboardist Elizabeth Carver filled out their orchestrally-minded roster. The band was mostly quiet for its first year of existence, avoiding live performances to instead focus on their brazen debut ‘Motherfucker, I am Both: “Amen” and "Hallelujah"…’ The record retains Sprain’s characteristic commitment to intensity, further mutated through a newfound lens of collagist approach. Featuring only a single, hour-plus long song, Motherfucker is a demanding exhibition of uncompromising ethos. Shearling’s aggressive live performances and meticulous recordings demonstrate an ambition, audacity, and emotional vulnerability that few contemporary bands can parallel. Straya - Minneapolis progressive/post-metal group.