LABEL: Merge
VINYL RELEASE DATE: 10/21/2022
ORIGINAL RELEASE DATE: 2022
VARIANT: White w/ Red & Purple Swirl Vinyl LP

As sculpted shards of guitartumbling, tolling, squallingshower the jittery bounce of a piano on opener Human, its obvious thatReason in Decline,Archers of Loafs first album in 24 years, will be more than a nostalgic, low-impact reboot. When they emerged from North Carolinas 90s indie-punk incubator, the Archers hurtling, sly, gloriously dissonant roar was a mythologized touchstone of slacker-era refusal. But this is an entirely different noise. In fact, its a startling revelation. Reason in Decline will be released worldwide by Merge Records on October 21st, 2022.

A few distinctions between 2022 Archers and the Clinton-era crewwhose South Carolina could be heard blaring out of Jordan Catalanos car radio on ABC teen-angst epicMy So-Called Life. First, guitaristsEric BachmannandEric Johnson, once headstrong smartasses inciting a series of artful pileups on the bands four studio albums and EP, are now a fluidly complementary, sonically advanced unit. Notably, Johnsons signature trebly lines peal clearly above the din instead of struggling to be heard. Second, singer-songwriter Bachmann, after throat surgery, relearned how to sing (this time from his diaphragm); as a result, he no longer howls like the angriest head cold on the Eastern Seaboard. And now, his lyrics balance righteous wrath with a complex tangle of adult perspective. He still spits bile, but its less likely to concern scene politics, music trends, or shady record labels thwarting the dreams of a young rock band.

Bachmann puts it bluntly: What I really think about going back to the Archers and doing a new record is that the three other members of this band are awesome. Its not about responding to the past or whatever our bullshit legacy is. I just wanted to work with these guys because I knew the chemistry we had and that we still have. I knew that was rare. I didnt care what it ended up sounding like.

Archers of Loafs first tour of duty ended after 1998sWhite Trash Heroes. The album did not raise the bands once touted commercial roof, and the membersBachmann, Johnson, bassistMatt Gentling, and drummerMark Pricestarted drifting in different directions with other projects & real life. Price was unable to play without extreme pain due to carpal tunnel syndrome. Bachmann itched to try a different musical approach. Everyone was tapped out in one way or another. Though the four remained good friends and convened for occasional reunion gigs (to support Merges 201112 album reissues, for instance), they never worked on new music. Gentling had joinedBand of Horses; Johnson, now a criminal defense attorney in Asheville, North Carolina, contributed guitar to projects when he had the time. On his own, Bachmann thrived, releasing 11 albums of atmospheric, folky rock/pop under his own name or group monikerCrooked Fingers. In recent years, hed toured as a sideman/foil for torch-country starNeko Case.

But chemistry is a funny thing, as Archers had the good fortune of learning following the recording of two different 7-inches of new materialRaleigh Days / Street Fighting Man(released on Record Store Day 2020) &Talking Over Talk. Despite playing together only a handful of times live during their hiatus (mostly playing older material), the band knew there was still something to be unpacked. Their work wasn’t finished. They’re older & smarter. Still pissed, no doubt (how could anyone not be right now?), but able to process that anger & turn it into a mature, staggering piece of guitar art. Merge Records & Archers of Loaf are proud to present to you theReason in Decline.