Some records knock one out at first listen. That is especially the case with Sonoma County’s very own Laceration, who just released I Erode, a nine-song platter on boutique independent metal label 20 Buck Spin records.
At its core, the band consists of Luke Cazares on rhythm guitars and vocals, and lead guitar on “Dreams Of The Formless”; Donnie Small on lead and rhythm guitars; Aerin Johnson on drums; and Eli Small on bass. Before heading out on a short 10-date tour with Molten, the band will play most of their new record at their upcoming local album-release show.
Fans may remember the group issued Demise (2021), which cemented the band as one of the most menacing death-metal quartets around.
Thankfully, their latest platter of splatter crushes anything in its wake. As heard on tracks like “Excised,” “Sadistic Enthrallment,” “Carcerality” and the ridiculously heavy title track, this band has done their homework and upped the ante for the local metal scene in the process. With influences ranging from Morbid Angel to Morgoth and Demolition Hammer to Suffocation, this nauseatingly heavy record is sure to land on many Top 10 year-end lists.
We caught up with Luke Cazares to talk about the scene and all things Laceration.
Bohemian: How did the record deal come together with 20 Buck Spin records?
Luke Cazares: We noticed there was an interest in what we were doing after we put out our 2021 debut, Demise, on Rotted Life Records. We were already huge fans of 20 Buck Spin as a label and for its own affiliated bands, so we quickly recorded a demo track of some new material and sent it to their office. That got the conversations going. Today, we are part of the best death-metal label roster in the world and couldn’t be happier.
Bohemian: Did you pick the bands for your record release party at Arlene Francis?
Cazares: Yes, we normally hand-pick show line-ups, as it’s a collaborative effort between us and Bitter End Booking. We like to bring killer bands through Santa Rosa as much as we can. As opposed to years ago, we now have great underground support that continually needs to be fed and perpetuated.
Bohemian: What other local bands are you also into, from any genre?
Cazares: There are lots of sick bands we love locally here like Vile Rites, Coffin Hunters, Burning Palace, Hexen House, Supplex and New Low, to name but a few.
Bohemian: Will there be more touring, aside from the handful of dates listed so far? Are you getting correspondence from other countries to visit and play?
Cazares: Definitely. We have some cool stuff planned for 2025 already. There has certainly been talk to play abroad. We send merchandise all over the world, and especially in Europe, so touring outside of the U.S. is something we definitely plan to do. It’s only a matter of time.
Bohemian: Were there any songs or riffs that didn’t make the record? Any plans to re-record your earliest stuff in a live setting?
Cazares: We have a lot of riffs on the back burner and will apply what we can as future material. We did initially toy with the idea of re-recording some older tracks from 2010 for this record, but decided to issue all-new music.
Bitter End Booking presents Laceration’s ‘I Erode’ album release show with Hemotoxin, Burning Palace and Aseptic at The Arlene Francis Center, located at 99 6th St. in Santa Rosa. Doors open at 6pm, show at 7pm on Saturday, Aug. 10. Tickets are $15 in advance and available online at bit.ly/laceration-i-erode. All ages are welcome. Listen to ‘I Erode’ at 20buckspin.bandcamp.com/album/i-erode.
(North Bay Bohemian )