Dutch investigational black metal trio (or purveyors of obscure dance music, whichever epithet you happen to prefer) Laster have announced the date for the release of «Het wassen oog», their third full-length record and first to be released through Prophecy Records. As the label explains in the press release, the record will come alongside a companion EP entitled «Stadsluik», further adding that with the pair, “the band brings its cineastic [sic] qualities to full effect.” Appropriately, the teaser video unveiled alongside the announcement, features a series of lines from Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 film «Stalker».

The connection to the director is further brought to the forefront in the label’s statement, which goes on to state that the album “sounds like a film noir by Russian legend Andrey [sic] Tarkovsky would look like – expressionistic, urgent and restrained at the same time, with long glimpses into dim corners, which could well be those of the human psyche.”

«Het wassen oog», whose artwork can be seen above, will be available through Prophecy in cd and vinyl formats on April 5. Pre-orders are available at this location. A digital version can be ordered here.Further note that the “2CD artbook” version includes the «Stadsluik» EP alongside an expanded layout and liner notes.

Laster will present «Het wassen oog» on April 13 at the Het Patronaat, during Roadburn 2019. That same day, they will join forces with musicians from Fluisteraars, Folteraar, Grey Aura, Nefast, Terzij de Horde, Turia, Verwoed, and Witte Wieven on the Maalstroom commissioned piece (more information available here). As if this wasn’t enough for a weekend, the day after two of the three members of the band will perform their first concert as Nusquama (more information at this location). Yeah, April couldn’t come soon enough for us here either.

Take music, for instance. Less than anything else, it is connected to reality, or if connected at all, it’s done mechanically, not by way of ideas, just by a sheer sound, devoid of…associations. And yet, music, as if by some miracle, gets through to our heart. What is it that resonates in us in response to noise brought to harmony, making it the source of the greatest delight which stuns us and brings us together? What’s all this needed for? And most important, who needs it? You would say, “No one. And for no reason.” Unselfishly. No. I don’t think so.