Pitchfork

Photo by Tim Soter

The beat of Drums and Guns marches on, and it will carry Duluth's beloved digital grindcore trio Low around the world in the coming months.

In addition to previously squawked about stints at the Sydney Festival and a pair of ATP/Don't Look Back-sponsored events (where they'll melt face to the tune of 2001 scorcher Things We Lost in the Fire), Alan, Mimi, and Matt will bring their distinctive musical offerings to all corners of Australia this January.

Then, after a two-month nap, it's off to Northern Europe and the UK for another round of mind obliteration.

Perhaps not coincidentally, said two-month nap occurs around the release of Retribution Gospel Choir, the debut LP from, you guessed it, Retribution Gospel Choir. Hard to believe the Alan Sparhawk-led side project is only now serving up a proper release (after a couple tour EPs), but we swear it's the truth and nothing but.

Retribution Gospel Choir arrives March 18 on Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon man Mark Kozelek's Caldo Verde imprint, and was in fact produced by Mr. Kozelek himself. Joining Sparhawk on the release are drummer/back-up vocalist Eric Pollard and bassist Matt Livingston (also of Low). Low's Mimi Parker lends back-up vocals to a tune called "Breaker", and if that and "Take Your Time" sound familiar, it's because these RGC originals were also performed by Low on Drums and Guns. Share and share alike, we always say.

Retribution Gospel Choir:

01 They Knew You Well
02 Take Your Time
03 Breaker
04 Somebody's Outside
05 Destroyer
06 Holes in Our Heads
07 What She Turned Into
08 For Her Blood
09 Kids
10 Easy Prey

Low-core:

01-11 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club (ATP) *
01-12 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club
01-13 Melbourne, Australia - East Brunswick Club
01-14 Fremantle, Australia - Fly by Night
01-16 Brisbane, Australia - The Troubadour
01-17 Sydney, Australia - Speigeltent (Sydney Festival)
01-18 Sydney, Australia - Speigeltent (Sydney Festival)
01-19 Sydney, Australia - Speigeltent (Sydney Festival / ATP) *
04-05 Helsinki, Finland - Tavatia
04-07 Stockholm, Sweden - Sodra Teatem
04-08 Oslo, Norway - Rockefeller
04-09 Copenhagen, Denmark - Vega
04-11 Rotterdam, Netherlands - Motel Mozaique
04-12 Norwich, England - Arts Centre
04-14 Bristol, England - Thekla Social
04-15 Portsmouth, England - Wedgewood Rooms
04-16 Brighton, England - St. Georges Church
04-17 Leeds, England - City Varieties
04-18 Gateshead, England - Sage
04-19 London, England - Union Chapel

* performing Things We Lost in the Fire