The Red Chord’s Mike “Gunface” McKenzie Announces New Solo Album + Record Label

Well well well, isn’t this exciting? Mike “Gunface” McKenzie, the brilliant guitarist for such outfits as The Red Chord, Wear Your Wounds, and Stomach Earth, has his own label now: Nighted Throne, will be an imprint of Deathwish Inc. (which is itself co-owned by McKenzie’s bandmate from Wear Your Wounds, Converge frontman Jacob Bannon). Appropriately, the label’s inaugural release will be a solo outing from McKenzie himself, Resplendent Host. No, it does not seem to be a concept album about a particularly enjoyable AirBNB rental.

ANYHOO, upon listening to the title track, longtime Gunface Gunfans may be bummed to realize that Resplendent Host isn’t nearly as heavy as the work for which McKenzie is famous. Hopefully, they’ll get over it when they realize how incredible the song is. Part of what made The Red Chord so great was the way the band incorporated so many varied influences into the work, so it makes sense that McKenzie would wanna spread his wings a bit. And besides, “Resplendent Host” is goddamn haunting. Rarely does a piece of music seem simultaneously so beautiful and so terrifying… and, again, that’s without any screaming or blast beats or whatever. So, yeah. Both of my thumbs up.

Do yourself a favor and check out “Resplendent Host” the song below. Resplendent Host the album comes out November 1, and can be pre-ordered here.

[via The PRP]