Love in Shadow
2018 studio album by Sumac
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Love in Shadow is the third studio album by American post-metal band Sumac. It was released on September 21, 2018 through Thrill Jockey.[1] Like the band's experimental collaboration with Keiji Haino earlier in 2018, much of the album was recorded improvisationally.[2][3] Love in Shadow was followed by a tour of the United States in early 2019.[4]
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| Love in Shadow | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 21, 2018 | |||
| Recorded | September 2017 | |||
| Studio | Robert Lang (Shoreline, Washington) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 66:09 | |||
| Label | Thrill Jockey | |||
| Producer | ||||
| Sumac chronology | ||||
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Critical reception
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 78/100[5] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [6] |
| Pitchfork | 7.8/10[7] |
| PopMatters | 9/10[8] |
| Rolling Stone | [9] |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.6/5[10] |
Love in Shadow was met with mostly positive reception. The album received an average score of 78/100 from 6 reviews on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[5] Paul Simpson of AllMusic described the album as "a bracing expression of visceral emotions that refuses to go the easiest, most comforting route, as well as the most focused Sumac album yet".[6] Both Chrostopher R. Weingarten of Rolling Stone and Spyros Stasis of PopMatters wrote that Love in Shadow broke new ground,[9][8] and Pitchfork's Grayson Haver Currin said that Sumac turned "from good to staggering" on the album.[7] Sputnikmusic called the album "startlingly unique" and "the most dynamic and interesting album that Aaron Turner has ever created", but wrote that some of the new ideas were jarring and out of place.[10]
Accolades
Along with the accolades above, Love in Shadow appeared on several Metal Hammer staff members' top lists and as an honorable mention on The A.V. Club's top metal albums list.[15][16]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Task" | 21:32 |
| 2. | "Attis' Blade" | 15:45 |
| 3. | "Arcing Silver" | 12:02 |
| 4. | "Ecstasy of Unbecoming" | 16:50 |
| Total length: | 66:09 | |
Personnel
Credits adapted from Love in Shadow liner notes[17]
Sumac
- Aaron Turner – guitar, vocals, artwork, design, production
- Nick Yacyshyn – drums
- Brian Cook – bass
Additional personnel
- Kurt Ballou – production, engineering, mixing
- Audrey Lowell – assistive engineering
- James Plotkin – mastering
- Faith Coloccia – organ (track 1)
Chart performance
| Chart (2018) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[18] | 11 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[19] | 33 |