Post-Punk Band Lathe of Heaven Announces New LP ‘Aurora’

Last Updated on 2025-06-26 by a-indie

Brooklyn-based Lathe of Heaven has announced the release of their second full-length album ‘Aurora’ on August 29, 2025.

Formed in 2021, the band has garnered attention for their innovative sound that pushes the boundaries of post-punk and new-wave.

Lathe of Heaven

Lathe of Heaven constructs a unique musicality that exists between beauty and dissonance through melodic riffs, urgent rhythms, and science fiction-themed lyrics. Their sound is reminiscent of both Finnish post-punk band Musta Paraati and pop pioneers A Flock of Seagulls.

The band members have experience participating in numerous notable Brooklyn-based projects including People’s Temple, Porvenir Oscuro, Pawns, Android, and Hustler. However, these diverse musical backgrounds represent a departure from past influences, moving toward the exploration of a completely original sound.

In 2023, they released their first full-length album ‘Bound By Naked Skies’. This eleven-track album was highly acclaimed as a work that skillfully fused elements of British new-wave and Finnish post-punk, perfectly expressing the sonic mania of the 1980s.

Deep Influence from Science Fiction Literature

Lathe of Heaven’s creative activities are strongly influenced by the mysterious worlds of science fiction authors Arthur C. Clarke, Octavia Butler, Ken Liu, and Ursula K. Le Guin. The band name itself is taken from Le Guin’s novel.

This literary influence is deeply reflected in their new work ‘Aurora’. The album is conceived as a “collection of sci-fi short stories,” with heavy themes of anti-colonialism, diversity, and equality embedded in the lyrics. These stories, inspired by the novels of Le Guin, Butler, Greg Egan, and Peter Watts, invite listeners into a world of deep contemplation.

Details of the New Album ‘Aurora’

Musical Evolution and Production Background

‘Aurora’ is positioned as a work that boldly expands Lathe of Heaven’s sonic and thematic palette. Rather than following a singular tone or mood, it presents a composition like vivid, emotional vignettes (short stories), with each track offering a different lens into the band’s evolving sound and deeply introspective lyrics.

The album combines influences from mid-1980s British and Finnish post-punk with subtle nuances from 1990s and contemporary underground pop. It presents a previously unexplored new aspect of Lathe of Heaven’s sound, achieving a delicate balance between punk roots and captivating new-wave and 1980s post-punk aesthetics.

In terms of production, Ben Greenberg handled recording at Circular Ruin, and Brad Boatright handled mastering. Musically, it draws inspiration from The Cure’s melodic rock, Musta Paraati’s gothic post-punk synth and intense drumming, and A Flock of Seagulls’ art pop vocals and guitar riffs.

Track Listing and Highlights

The album contains eleven tracks, with the title track “Aurora” already released as a lead single. This song is set in a dystopian future where Earth has long been abandoned due to nuclear contamination, drawing inspiration from Arthur C. Clarke’s short story “If I Forget Thee, O Earth…”. It explores themes of loss, love, and devotion at the end of the world.

Release Information and Formats

‘Aurora’ will be released on August 29, 2025, through Sacred Bones Records. It will be available in multiple formats including Sacred Bones exclusive “Slipstream” bone white splatter on sea blue vinyl, limited edition 350 copies of Hyperion Blue vinyl, CD, and limited edition 200 copies of cassette tape.

The band stakes their claim with the message “tremble without fear into dreamless oblivion” alongside ‘Aurora’. This new work will undoubtedly leave a deep impression on many music fans as a work that demonstrates the new creative heights Lathe of Heaven has reached.

The track listing is as follows:
1. “Exodus”
2. “Aurora”
3. “Portrait of a Scorched-Earth”
4. “Just Beyond the Reach of Light”
5. “Oblivion”
6. “Kaleidoscope”
7. “Matrix of Control”
8. “Catatonia”
9. “Infinity’s Kiss”
10. “Automation Bias”
11. “Rorschach”
bandcampで見る

Lathe of Heaven – Aurora (Official Video)

About BELONG Media/A-indie

BELONG Media is an indie music media outlet that started in 2012. We cover indie music from around the world, including Japan and overseas. In 2021, we appeared as a guest on J-WAVE’s “SONAR MUSIC.” In 2022, we launched “A-indie,” an English-language sister site focusing on Asian music.

• BELONG Media: [https://belongmedia.net/]
• A-indie: [https://a-indie.com/]
• x(BELONG Media): [https://x.com/BELONG_Media]
• x(Jingle Jungle Range Town Project): [https://x.com/JingleJungleRT]
• Instagram: [https://www.instagram.com/belong_media]
• Link List: [https://linktr.ee/belong_media]
• Contact regarding this matter: BELONG Media/A-indie Email: [belongmagazine1967＠gmail.com](Please change “＠” to “@”)