“Lionisis” by David Eugene Edwards

Over the course of three decades, David Eugene Edwards (Wovenhand, 16 Horsepower) has carved out one of the most unique and inimitable careers in American music. Blending folk, western, and post-punk with apocalyptic and Old Testament-inspired lyrics, eclectic instrumentation, and a wild howl of a voice, Edwards’ music is truly unlike anything else out there. So I guess it only makes sense that he’s finally releasing a solo album.

(Given how singular Edwards’ artistic vision has been over the years, it’s hard not to think of those Wovenhand and 16 Horsepower albums as solo albums, too — to a certain extent, anyway.)

Hyacinth will be released by Sargent House (Deafheaven, Lingua Ignota, Russian Circles) on September 29, 2023. The first single, “Lionisis,” is impossible to mistake as anyone else’s tune, thanks its stark acoustic guitar, brooding drones, and Edwards’ unique voice dropping Biblical references (“Rose of Sharon”) alongside more cryptic references to constellations, the Hebrew calendar, and Greek mythology.

In addition to releasing Hyacinth, Edwards will also embark on a European tour throughout September and October; tour dates and info can be found here.