Oxes

***OXES, (1998-2011) was an experimental, instrumental trio hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, comprising of guitarists Marc Miller and Nat Fowler, and drummer Christopher Freeland. With performance-art tinged of instrumentals that incorporated wireless guitars and stand-up comedy, they describe their music as “heavy metal tone poems.” Now they commemorate the 20-year anniversary of their first LP with a gatefold double vinyl remastered by Sarah Register. The new release The Fourth Wall features the original self titled album and the group’s first Peel Session—which was previously unavailable in high fidelity—as well as a booklet featuring never-before-seen photos and texts about their history. The cover, which was painted by Christopher Freeland, reinterprets OXES’ original cover photograph by Eric Wareheim. With cosmic synchronicity, the band’s guitarists being born on the birth and death days of Jimi Hendrix respectively, they immanentize the eschaton this year; on the day of the record’s release, as the number 42 presents itself as the age of guitarist Marc Miller and the year in which Hendrix was born. Pressed on double vinyl in a superb gatefold cover with a matte finish and a 12-page booklet, all housed in a futuristic aluminum sleeve.