Nocturnal Habits
Brooke Stewart
Nocturnal Habits marks a return for influential guitarist/vocalist Justin Trosper. His work in the seminal post hardcore band Unwound and more recently the angular rock of Survival Knife are evident in the overall sound of New Skin For Old Children, however there is a new tone, focused more sharply on the songwriting and production. The angles have been softened to create crushing, blunt force blows rather than sharp cuts.
Recorded throughout the world from Italy to Los Angeles and the backwoods of the Northwest New Skin For Old Children reunites Trosper with Sara Lund, his Unwound collaborator and so called “secret weapon,” as well as Dale Crover (Melvins), Sherry Fraser, and Scott Seckington (Two Ton Boa).
The deconstruction and experimentalism that have been the foundations for much of Trosper’s artistic output are evident but maturation sets the tone throughout. The breakdown yelps and screams of “Ice Islands” are there but you’re going to need to meander through a wash of cymbals and droning guitar to hear it. It won’t disappoint when you arrive!
Trosper handles the bulk of the writing duties which allowed him the time and space to explore a multitude of instruments and recording methods. New Skin For Old Children employs synths old and new, acoustic and electronic strings, traditional drums, bass and guitars, ambient noise, and a multitude of voices giving each song a unique texture.
