photo by Shawn Brackbill

A bad breakup rarely calls for celebration, but it is a cause for Ceremony. The Bay Area band builds their fifth full-length around singer Ross Farrar's recent romantic split, narrating his loss and resulting loneliness almost chronologically. The L-Shaped Man isn't all about doom and gloom, though, and as the band continues their transformation away from their frenetic hardcore origins toward a sound more akin to the songwriters of their namesake, Joy Division, they maintain a tight precision and sonic clarity, all the while conveying a devastating, yet relatable, sense of raw emotion.

The L-Shaped Man is due May 19th on Matador, but you can listen to the entire LP on through our exclusive premiere below. Also, but sure to catch Ceremony on tour this summer. They'll be at Neumos in Seattle on July 15th. Grab your tickets here and find more dates here.