Lullabye Arkestra Strip It Down

Less is more.

This ages-old axiom has been called everything from an ingenious revelation to a load of shit, but in the world of Toronto-based metal-influenced rock duo Lullabye Arkestra it's become a life-saving credo. It's a reality that ensures their expansion from sub-culture basement act to potentially being the next Death From Above 1979.

Yes, it sounds like hyperbole but when one sinks their teeth into the act's Vice Records debut Threats/Worship, the thunderous, beastly drumming of Justin Small and resounding, mountain-shattering drone of Kat Taylor-Small's bass — completed by oscillating vocal duties — instantly justifies the hype.

The album is an enthralling, epic affair that unites bare-bones bravado with grandiose doom metal and explosive rock 'n' roll gusto. It's a bold, stripped down affair compared to Lullabye Arkestra's 2006 debut, Ampgrave.

"Threats/Worship takes more of one of our particular sounds and focuses in on it," says Small when questioned as to how the pair attacked Threats/Worship. "We stripped away the soul horns and garagey aspects, going for the throat more this time. I've always been really proud of [Ampgrave] but I did feel it was all over the place. I see us as being a more efficient monster when we focus in on something and hit it. It comes out of us better."

As Taylor-Small adds, though, after the five-year ordeal of making Ampgrave, she and Small were adamant about cutting to the chase this time around. From intense writing sessions to recording bed tracks in two days, Threats/Worship is the direct result of Lullabye Arkestra's focused and malicious intent.

"Ampgrave took us so long to record and put out that we wanted the complete opposite of it," she says. "We did the whole album in a couple of months and are still in love with all of the songs that are on it as opposed to leaving things too long.

"With this album, it's totally upfront and immediate; really satisfying."

"Ampgrave represents us over a period of time but with Threats/Worship, this album is the sound we really want to do right now. Not to say that we won't go back to larger compositions," adds Small cautiously, "but right now we're really happy with the streamlined approach."

Lullabye Arkestra have these shows lined up:

Sept. 3 Toronto, ON @ Poor Alex Theatre w/ Metz, Brides and Dangerbay
Sept. 4 Montreal, QC @ Casa Del Popolo w/ Metz and Grand Trine
Oct. 1 Montreal, QC @ Theatre Olympia (Pop Montreal)