Thermals - Desperate Ground LP

The Thermals (Hutch Harris, Kathy Foster, and Westin Glass) are a post-pop-punk trio from pre-Portlandia-Portland, Oregon.  The band was formed in 2002 and has since released six records and toured fifteen countries. The Thermals and Saddle Creek have a long history of sleeping on floors together:  The Thermals have toured with Cursive and Ladyfinger, and Hutch and Kathy organized the first Bright Eyes show in Portland way back in 1999. Desperate Ground, The Thermals' newest LP and debut for Saddle Creek, was produced by John Agnello (Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth) in Hoboken, NJ.  Agnello and The Thermals completed the record and evacuated the studio just hours before Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, a fate quite fitting when you consider the product.  Desperate Ground is a true scrappy and scratchy return-to-form for The Thermals, with all the raw power and unhinged adolescent energy that made their early LP's so insanely enjoyable.  Lyrically, Desperate Ground is a brash and irresponsible ode to human violence, a black celebration of the inevitability of war and death.  A dark and yet joyous affair, Desperate Ground tells the (murky) tale of a lone rogue in the night.  One man, one path, one sword.  An unceasing urge to destroy.  A never-ending battle against the forces of nature.  A destiny impossible to avoid.