ERAK,THOMAS & THE OUROBOROS
(AU) (TRANSPARENT BLACK) - LP

UPC: 794558050418
Label: EQUAL VISION RECORDS
Format: LP
Release Date: March 7, 2025
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All too often, solo albums sound like solo albums—a watered-down version of whatever band the musician is from. The part without its sum, if you will. Not(AU). The debut full-length from Fall Of Troy guitaristThomas Erak redefines what it means to make a record away from your usual group ofmusicians.In fact, Erak made these thirteen songs with the idea and intention of it sounding like a band—he just played every instrument on it himself. It’s been a relatively long process, but “This is a new record that, technically, I’ve been working on since 2017,”he says.“But it was really just a passion project because I was in no hurry to make a solo record per se, and I really didn’t mean to. But I got stuck in Seattle at the beginning of the pandemic and that’s where this all really began. I didn’t really write anything,I just kind of made it up as I went along.I started with drums, then did the bass, then guitars,vocals and keys. Once I had the instrumental,I’d sit there with it rewinding and writing lyrics,and as soon as I had those I’d go into the booth and cut them right there.”Now,some seven years (and some huge life changes) later,(AU)—the chemical symbol for gold—is herein all its shimmering glory.It’s worth noting, however, that these songs don’t start shining like the titular element until near the end, as it reflects where Erak—physically and mentally, emotionally and geographically—now finds himself, as opposed to the period leading up to it. Produced by Ryan Thomas,the album is a chronological, real-time account of where Erak was in life as he was writing them. As such, it  begins with the intense chaos of“Unlawful Assembly”,an off-kilter, tumultuous and uneasy stop-start explosion of jet black noise that begins and ends with the sound of sirens.“The record starts really dark,”says Erak,“because when I started writing the vocals all the George Floyd stuff was happening. We were watching the Seattle riots as I was recording and writing the lyrics to that song, so it’s my take on what I was seeing unfold in real time.”It then gives way to“Conjugal Visits”,a song that continues the law and (dis)order motif,but actually has its roots in more personal circumstances.“It’s about a relationship,”explains Erak,“that I ended up in that I knew I shouldn’t have ended up back in, and which was very poisonous. It got to the point where it literally didn’t even feel like a relationship.It just felt like conjugal visits.”So far so bleak, and that’s just the first two tracks. Both revel in the darkness of their inspirations, however, twisting and turning and exploding with pent-up rage and angst. That’s ramped up more with“A.D.D.T.M.”.The periods within the acronym are, Erak says, a throwback toThe Fall OF Troy and their track “F.C.P.S.I.T.S.G.E.P.G.E.P.G.E.P”, though the meaning of this one—“Attention Deficit Disorder Of The Masses”—is slightly less controversial. Musically, too,it recalls the progressive post-hardcore ofThe Fall Of Troy,but, as with every song on this record, it’s unafraid to forge its own path. It also encapsulates the over-arching theme and narrative of the record: the desire and hope to give your loved ones a better life than your own. It takes a while to get, though.“DCLXVI”—the Roman numerals for 666—is as dark as its title suggests, a spiraling sonic journey as beautiful as it is evil—while “Fucking Up” is a half frantic, half resigned tug-of-war between self-recrimination and emancipation full of truly wicked and delicious guitar licks. 

Elsewhere,“Colic” metamorphizes into abstract dissonance, demonstrating that Erak isn’t at all afraid to experiment and push boundaries in unexpected directions,“Thousands Of Dead Satellites”is a metaphysical glance at the stars that feels more like being sucked into a black hole, while the abrasive and scathing“You Got The Wrong One Today, Buddy”sees Erak revisit some childhood trauma to powerful, cathartic effect.“Sometimes I have to pull things out of myself that aren’t too fun to look at or deal with or think about,”he admits,“and they take you back to a place that wasn’t very good. But if I can take it and make something positive out of it, then I can make something positive in my life with it. So instead of just living with it, every time I play that song I’m reminded that I got through it.”Indeed, constant motion plays a significant role on this album, both musically and thematically, as the songs march from a deep black void in search of light and, ultimately,love. After(AU)navigates its way through the shades of darkness—including the desperate vulnerability and mental anguish of“Triggered”and the restless angst of“Dial Tone”—it shakes off the torment of the past to emerge in the golden glow of Erak’s present: the sun of San Diego, the joy of a happy relationship, the pride of being a step-parent and the sheer bliss of being inspired musically again.“I feel like I got all this experimentation out of me,”he says.“I’ve had this record in the chamber for so long now, and I feel very rejuvenated.” Partly, that’s due to Erak finding himself a new home in San Diego, where he moved about two years agoto be with his wife and stepson. Another big factor is the group of musicians—The Ouroboros of the record’s title—he’s since enlisted to be his backing band.Consisting of Aaron Groon (vocals and guitar),Tito Valentino(guitar) and Keniff Mors(bass) from Erak’s favorite San Diego band, A Different Kind Of Giant, as well as Chicago-based drummer Mark Serpico (who also recorded the drums on“DCLXVI”, the only track Erak wasn’t behind the kit for), the Ouroboros will help bring the record to life when Erak takes it on the road.Fall Of Troy fans shouldn’t despair, however. Those bandmates encouraged Erak to do this, and there’ll be more from that band in the not-too-distant future. Right now, though, is time to celebrate what Erak considers the record that best represents him that he’s ever made.“I feel like I’m shining,”he says.“I feel like gold. I feel happy in my personal life, I feel happy with my musical life, Fall Of Troy’s back together and we’re going to write another record,and my favorite band down here are going to be my full-time band. Everything is going great. Ever since I came to San Diego,my life has just done…I wouldn’t even say a 180,I’d say like a 720, and then a 180. It was almost dizzying.I feel like this record is my gold record. Even if it doesn’t sell gold, I still have a gold record to put on my wall.

TRACK LIST:

Disc 1

1. Unlawful Assembly
2. Conjugal Visits
3. A.D.D.T.M. (Attention Deficity Disorder of The Masses)
4. DCLXVI (666)
5. How High Is Your I.Q.?
6. Figure It Out!
7. Fucking Up
8. Colic

Disc 2

1. Thousands Of Dead Satellites
2. Triggered
3. "You Got The Wrong One Today, Buddy,,,"
4. Dial Tone
5. Wormhole