Magic Bullet Records has slated "Delayer," the debut album from Chicago’s RLYR (pronounced “relayer”), to be released June 17. The trio boasts a lineup comprised of some of the most esteemed members of the city’s experimental rock community: Steven Hess (also of Locrian), Colin DeKuiper (also of Bloodiest, ex: Russian Circles) and Trevor Shelley de Brauw (also of Pelican). Existing at some hypnotic cross-section of guitar-forward indie, noise, punk, prog, and post-punk, the band represents some of the most energized music in each player’s storied career. Spanning four songs in 42 minutes, "Delayer" is epic in scope, but pointedly direct in its approach, recalling the charged anthemics of mid ‘80s SST via the explosive catharsis of post-hardcore. The band will head out on a brief tour in support of the album, including shows with kindred spirits United Nations, The Armed, Cloakroom, and many more (full dates below).
Initially formed as an improvisational guitar/drum duo of Trevor and Steven at the behest of Keith Utech for the second installment of Utech Music Festival in late 2013, the two musicians sensed an immediate connection and continued playing together with the intention of properly documenting the piece they’d performed at the festival. Within weeks it became apparent that the project was becoming a proper band and required low end augmentation, leading the duo to enlist Colin DeKuiper on bass. Renowned for their energized performances, the band has become a staple of the Chicago live music scene, providing support for Coliseum, Deafheaven, The Twilight Sad, Holy Sons, Six Organs of Admittance, Greys, and many more.