Return to Annihilation
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Return to Annihilation
| type = studio
| artist = Locrian
| cover = Returntoannihilation 1400.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2013|06|25}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Doom metal, drone metal, black metal, drone, noise
| length = 49:50
| label = Relapse Records
| producer = Locrian
| prev_title = Locrian & Christoph Heemann
| prev_year = 2012
| next_title = Infinite Dissolution
| next_year = 2015
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Pitchfork
| rev1Score = 8.0/10{{cite web|last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver (July 24, 2013)|title=Return to Annihilation on Pitchfork|website=Pitchfork |url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18255-return-to-annihilation/|accessdate=2 February 2017}}
| rev2 = Consequence Of Sound
| rev3 = Exclaim!
| rev4 = Popmatters
| rev5 = Tiny Mix Tapes
}}
Return to Annihilation is an album from the drone rock band Locrian. It was released on June 25, 2013, through Relapse Records.{{cite web|title=LOCRIAN: Announce Details For New Album 'Return To Annihilation'|url=http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/news/locrian-announce-details-for-new-album-return-to-annihilation/|accessdate=3 February 2017}}
Background
Return to Annihilation was announced on April 25, 2013, through a press releases which described the release as the band's “Relapse Records” full-length debut.{{cite web|title=LOCRIAN: Announce Details For New Album 'Return To Annihilation'|url=http://www.thesleepingshaman.com/news/locrian-announce-details-for-new-album-return-to-annihilation/|website=The Sleeping Shaman|accessdate=8 March 2017}}{{cite web|title=LOCRIAN ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM DETAILS|url=http://rock-a-rolla.com/main/?p=4313|website=Rock-A-Rolla Magazine|accessdate=8 March 2017}}
The group was inspired by the “band’s love for prog-rock progenitors Genesis, Yes & King Crimson.”
Reception
The album generally received favorable responses from critics and fans alike. Pitchfork Media gave the album a positive review, rating the album at 8 out of 10 and praising the album as being the group's “most provocative and engaging album to date.”{{cite web|last1=Currin|first1=Grayson Haver|title=Locrian: Return to Annihilation Review|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/18255-return-to-annihilation/|website=Pitchfork|accessdate=8 March 2017}} Consequence of Sound gave the album a C+ and noted that the band had added variety to their songwriting on the album, incorporating aspects of black metal and blissful shoegaze. They added that the group are transposing the black metal template onto other genres along with their "contemporaries Deafheaven and Sunn O))).{{cite web|last1=Hadusek|first1=Jon|title=Locrian: Return to Annihilation Review|url=https://consequence.net/2013/06/album-review-locrian-return-to-annihilation/|website=Consequence of Sound|accessdate=10 March 2017}}"
The album currently has a score of 80 on Metacritic, indicating “generally favorable reviews.”{{cite web|title=Locrian: Return to Annihilation Review|url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/return-to-annihilation/locrian|website=Metacritic|accessdate=10 March 2017}}
Spin magazine included the release in their list of the "Best 20 Metal Albums of 2013" and ranked the album at number four.{{cite web|last1=Staff (December 6, 2013)|first1=Spin|title=SPIN'S 20 BEST METAL ALBUMS OF 2013|url=http://www.spin.com/2013/12/best-metal-albums-2013/131122-locrian-return-to-annihilation-web/|website=Spin|accessdate=10 March 2017}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| total_length = 49:50
| title1 = Eternal Return
| length1 = 2:51
| title2 = A Visitation from the Wrath of Heaven
| length2 = 8:25
| title3 = Two Moons
| length3 = 4:26
| title4 = Return to Annihilation
- a. "Into One Light"
- b. "Anathemata"
- c. "All Mineral In Upheaval"
| length4 = 6:45
| title5 = Exiting the Hall of Vapor and Light
| length5 = 5:15
| title6 = Panorama of Mirrors
| length6 = 6:38
| title7 = Obsolete Elegies
- a. "Isostasy"
- b. "Digression of Air"
- c. "Hydriotaphia"
- d. "In Felsic Splendor"
| length7 = 15:30
}}
References
{{Reflist |2}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|type=album|567260}}
{{Locrian (band)}}
{{Authority control}}