Denude, the Illinois-Wisconsin based math rock trio, is unveiling their debut LP, A Murmuration of Capitalist Bees. Formed by veterans of Chicago and Milwaukee’s underground scenes, Denude brought together James David (Murder in the Red Barn, Fuiguirnet), Jesse Schomisch (Fuiguirnet), and Matthew Parrish (Piglet, Dr Manhattan), musicians whose collective history spans decades and is steeped in the rusted vans and DIY spaces of the Midwest.
The roots of Denude run deep. Back in the early 2000s, Matthew Parrish, then the drummer for Piglet, attended a show at Chicago’s Fireside Bowl to see James David’s band, Murder in the Red Barn. “I was eager to form a connection with the band,” Parrish recalls. The two groups became fast friends, playing countless shows together in basements, skateparks, and DIY art spaces across Milwaukee, Chicago, and St. Louis.
Commenting on today’s release, third and the last single off their upcoming LP, Jesse Schomisch explains: “Phalanx’ is Denude at our most punk, at least so far. It’s noisy and dissonant, overtly political and irreverent, tense but with a satisfying release.”
Their debut album, A Murmuration of Capitalist Bees, was recorded with minimal production over three days at Howl Street Recording in Milwaukee. Engineered by long-time friend Shane Hochstetler (Child Bite, Call Me Lightning), the album captures the raw, immediate energy of the band’s live sound. With just 14 hours of live tracking and very few overdubs, the result is a tight, visceral eight-track LP that reflects the DIY ethos Denude embodies. While the lyrical aspect shows the full palette of different themes confronting the anxieties of contemporary life with its capitalism, environmental threats, wars, economics, and existentialism. “His delivery doesn’t pull any punches,” says Parrish.
“At times, it feels like he’s shouting into the ears of listeners out of sheer frustration”. Known for their no-frills performances and refusal to hide behind digital personas, Denude aims to connect directly with audiences, preferring to be on the floor with their fans rather than isolated in green rooms.
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