From its haunting opening notes to its noisiest explosions, Scrimshander's debut album showcases a band focused on powerfully melodic songwriting and meticulous but bombastic production. Folky song skeletons grow flesh, fattened up by drum machines, synths, percussion, strings and vocal layers. Story songs about animals and criminals give way to moments of confessional vulnerability. As chaos swallows beauty, Scrimshander’s dark impulses devour its gentle, folky roots.

Head Hang Low

Natural Disaster

Burden of Proof

Empty Ring

Heartwood

Underworld

Dirty Birds

Monster

Holy Roll

Milk and Honey

A scrimshander is a maker of scrimshaw, the archaic marine art of engraving on bones, teeth and tusks. Scrimshander is also a two-man band from Portland, Oregon. Peter Valois and Andy Furgeson fatten up their song skeletons with drum machines, fuzzy synths, bombastic percussion, vocal layers, and a kitchen sink full of acoustic instruments. Story songs about animals and criminals give way to moments of confessional vulnerability, while Scrimshander’s dark impulses threaten to devour its gentle, folky roots.