Primus is back with their first album of original material in six years, and they’re wasting no time to prove that there are still more boundaries to be pushed in modern progressive rock.
With the propulsive bass introduction on “The Scheme,” fans of the San Francisco-based band can be put immediately at ease that the reformation of the band’s core lineup of bassist and lead vocalist Les Claypool, guitarist Larry LeLonde, and drummer Tim Alexander will bring more of the same mind-bending, mischievous music on the band’s upcoming ninth studio album The Desaturating Seven.
For the latest record, frontman Les Claypool acknowledges its roots in the old school along with the revitalized direction of the band’s sound. “This record hearkens back to our prog roots — Rush, Yes, [King] Crimson, all those things,” Claypool says. “It’s a little heavier than the last record, more intricate than anything we’ve done in a while.”
Trending on Billboard
Seven will mark the reunion of the three longest-tenured members of the band, marking the first album to include all three original members of Primus since 1995’s Tales From the Punchbowl. The trio is also responsible for the band’s 1990 debut Frizzle Fry and their highest-charting album Pork Soda, which peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 in 1993.
As a preview for their latest album, “The Scheme” builds the mystique of what the reformed set has been concocting during their time back together in the studio. Its abrupt conclusion also suggests that “The Scheme” fits into a much larger tale, one that can be heard in its entirety when The Desaturating Seven is released on Sept. 29 via ATO Records.
The band will also be embarking on their “Ambushing The Storm” tour which starts on Oct. 20 and includes a special Halloween set in Brooklyn. N.Y. Tour information can be found here.
Check out “The Scheme” exclusively on Billboard below.