“STONES AND BONES” WILL BREAK YAKUZA’S STICKS

I can’t say I’m a huge Yakuza fan, but I’ve always admired the band from a distance. It also turns out that their band name is crucial to remember if you ever get stuck with the letter “Y” when playing “the band name game.”

So when Stereogum’s Brandon Stosuy says that Yakuza’s new album Of Seismic Consequence is a big step forward for the band, I’ll have to take his word for it. Stereogum is premiering a new track called “Stones and Bones” from that album and I’m really digging it; it’s spacey and expansive, stonery, jazzy and proggy. It’s got the added and unexpected bonus of a saxophone solo at the end by frontman Bruce Lamont, who lent his sax skills to Nachtmystium’s Assassins: Black Meddle Part I album-closer “Seasick.” I’m not a huge fan of Lamont’s vocal style (too whiny) and the drums on this track are sloppy at times, but I like the overall feel and attitude of it. Definitely makes me curious to hear the new album when it comes out.

Of Seismic Consequence comes out on June 8th via Profound Lore. Stream “Stones and Bones” at Stereogum.

-VN