As of this writing, I have been home from Chicago for about two hours. Whatever you may have heard on the news or opinions you have formed, Chicago is truly an exercise in paradox. On the one hand, you have some incredibly talented, compassionate, and creative communities that create all kinds of art and joy. On the other, you have a city where industrialization, redlining, and the relentless march of capitalism have left many in poverty and an endless cycle of struggle.
Perhaps it is this very paradox that has made Chicago the home of so many incredible noise rock artists. They have the tense heartbeat of the city embedded in their ire. The ironic and sardonic mentality that seeks to challenge expectations and shock the listener out of complacency. They also have a vibrant community that continues to produce and sustain heavy acts like Shellac, Yakuza, Bongripper, Indian, and today’s premiere, Big’n, whose first full-length album in 28 years is available to stream below ahead of its release date on Friday. Check out End Comes Too Soon below!
Big’n formed in 1990, released a split with Shellac, a full-length album in 1994, and then went more or less dormant for years. In 2018, they released the excellent Knife of Sin EP and later traveled a few hours to play in the Quad Cities. I was there, front and center. The lead singer descended the stage with the microphone and stand, proceeded to snatch my beer, drink/dump half of it on himself, give the remainder back to me, and then put the mic stand on my chest to sing the next verse. I don’t know if that paints a picture of what this band sounds like or not, but these wild stage antics were the perfect fit for their brand of abrasive, bass and drum heavy, shout like you’re sanity depends on it, seething noise rock. I wasn’t mad about the beer.
End Comes Too Soon was recorded at Electrical Audio by Shane Hochstetler, leading up to Electrical Audio owner/famed engineer/Shellac and Big Black front man Steve Albini‘s unexpected passing. The title comes from a lyric, but serves as an apropos send off to the loss of the Chicago underground music legend. True to the kind of music Albini made himself, Big’n have unleashed a scalding, intense album that is equally cathartic and scathing, much like critic darlings Chat Pile. Singer William Akins bellows and snarls with a vitriol for humanity’s absurdity, recognizing the pain and anguish that underlies our actions as we navigate the injustices and calamities of living.
After all these years, Big’n‘s return fits the state of our world like an asphalt-covered glove. You can pre-order End Comes Too Soon from Computer Students. Follow Big’n on Facebook and Instagram, and as we saunter forth into the uncertain future, let End Comes Too Soon be the soundtrack for days you need to soak yourself in beer and get the rage out.
