Welcome to the Razorhouse
"Scolds Bridle" Out NOW (digital & CD)
Vinyl LP to follow April/May 2023
“Are your thoughts your own,
when all you love is on trial?”
- Mark Panick from Scolds Bridle
The Isolation that no one asked for.
As the reality descended everyone started to see how the solitude appealed to some while a completely destructive force to others. For the members of Razorhouse it was a little of both.
Mark Panick, “The bones of three of these songs on the record were cast just prior to the world shutting down. In the resulting halt, we decided they were to be stored in their respective ossuaries. Then, as the band slid into 2022 trying to hold their wigs on, we retrieved those bones and sung flesh to the lattice.”
The rest of the record rose out of this heavily solitude seasoned organic stew. Mark Panick’s lyrics sculpted his frustrations with the human condition and the arrangements gave color and shape to the indignities and anxieties they were all living with.
The act of creating in their bubbles of solitude in all this quiet was a new experience for the band members, so many new approaches were employed.
David Suycott took to tracking his drum parts on pads in his apartment. The other respective players began tracking parts in their home setups as well. The band realized it was the limited distractions and a lot of anxious passion that built “Scolds Bridle”.
“Its GOOD!….buts its no Doja Cat”
- Hunt Sales - Iggy Pop, Tin Machine, Hunt Sales Memorial
"Years ago I read an anecdote about Alfred Hitchcock (63 at the time) and his penultimate film Frenzy, At the end of a pre-release screening, a lifelong friend of the legendary filmmaker, said “Hitch, it looks like the work of a gifted, young filmmaker.” That’s how I feel about the music of Mark Panick. Every track on the new album sounds beyond contemporary, as if created by a gifted, young singer-songwriter. It’s hard for any artist to remain cutting-edge forty years into their career, but Panick pulls it off with the exuberance of a twenty-year old. The results are nothing less than astonishing.”
- Stephen Sayadian aka Rinse Dream,
Director/Writer - Cafe Flesh, Dr Calgari
“It is an authentic pleasure to listen to deeply informed musicians who seem to effortlessly craft a sonic landscape both enticing and dreamy. The cutting lyrics resonate with the current weltgeist and are delivered like warm butter on fresh bread."
- Joe Michelli - VJ Medusas
“Razorhouse...Front-man Mark Panick pens songs that mix the beautiful with the darkly disturbing, approximating a sound that ranges from gothic—think Nick Cave or Tom Waits gothic to bent chamber-pop to country murder ballads.”
- Chicagoist
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Out NOW! (digital & CD)
Vinyl LP to follow April/May 2023
On Underwear Factory Toy Records
erase your face
track 2
scolds bridle
MUSIC
WORDS
All lyrics by Mark Panick except "Nevermind" by Leonard Cohen
Morrows day
Tell your lover they’re the one
love until the culling done
tell the sisters of the gun
we can’t protect them anymore
this is your morrows day
and it doesn’t really matter
And the world sees beauty through the barrel of a gun
in the maw in the maw in the catty of the maw
you don’t own the morrow in the heaven of the pause
Tell your lover they’re the one
love until the culling done
tell the sisters of the gun
we can’t protect them anymore
this is your morrows day
and it doesn’t really matter
catty in the culley in the all night long
Erase your face
Avoid all transactions
in the marketplace
gimme all your money
we’ll wipe every trace
though it sounds appealing
In the obvious ways
You need something solid
to be disengaged
Desperation goin down
you can smell it like cologne
all over town
desperation goin down
goin down
Isolation going down
and its tagged on the walls
of the subways uptown
Isolation goin down
goin down
Cancel all subscriptions
and leave no trace
give us all your money
we’ll erase your face
though it sounds appealing
In the obvious ways
You need something solid
to be disengaged
Disconnection goin down
in the fear that we know
when were living underground
disconnection going down
goin down
Desperation going down
its written in the eyes
that wander this town
desperation goin down
Avoid all transactions
with the human race
and you’ll be much safer
in a quiet place
as you cut your losses
and you make your way
Its a fine distinction
that we cut this way
Desperation goin down
and its tagged on the walls
of the subways downtown
Desperation goin down
goin down
Isolation goin down
in the fear that we know
when were living underground
isolation going down
goin down
Desperation goin down
you can smell it like cologne
all over town
desperation goin down
goin down
Disconnection goin down
in the fear that we know
when were living underground
disconnection going down
goin down
Life tears (the strange)
Life tears the strange
from tendon and bone
barely alive
I am the bastard
In the corner of the room
Whither and moan
Doesn’t make any difference
When you’re alone
Life is some shitty business
nothing remains
of your will
or the memory
of your name
Whether you know
Its not the real burden
Left to your own
Poison thru out the system
your skin is on fire
Let it burn
to guide us to new lands
Whither and moan
breathings a risky business
tear at your bones
this year there is no Christmas
Forfeit the loan
Burn down the family
Business
out on your own
life is some shitty business
Scolds bridle
Cauterize the bone, leave it on the fire
tell her your not home, tell her your a liar
And you won’t be at the after party
And you won’t be, in the car
All the wrong in the world I see
All the wrong that I own
Dedicate and own possession of the fire
are your thoughts your own
when all you loves on trial
And you won’t be in the commissary
And you won’t be…at all
When your lost dreams
seem secondary
as your breath stalls …in the dawn
in the dizzy parabolic
of this carnival of pain
in distracted affectation
she invokes
your Christian name
in the brining of your senses
and your broken skin attire
we are reaching our conclusions
we are reaching thru the fire
we are dancing on a wire
we are calling out the gods
we wanna see
we wanna feel
we wanna be real
disconnect the phone, tear at all your wires
go outside alone in search of your desires
And you can’t be
where they’d rather have you
And you won’t go
unknown
how the world seems
so ordinary
how the world seems
unkind
in the eyes of the forgotten
in the cues of guilt and hope
we will bind your broken bones
and lash your heart with sailors rope
In the war to define meaning
an the conscript misanthropes
these boundaries that contain us
and the fear of letting go
how we destroy
the things we love
in all our best intentions
no instructions from above
we wanna see
we wanna feel
we wanna be real
The good loser
I’m gettin too good at losing
I’m gettin too slow on the draw
maybe its time for choosing
tween what really matters
what don’t at all
what side of the line, will you be on
what side of the line, do you care
maybe losing your mind, the long way
maybe losing it all, was the door
Its not like I planned to be here
its not like I planned at all
life has its way with the weather
whether you believe
or not at all
what side of the line, will you be on
what side of the line, do you care
make up your mind, in your own time
on what we do or do not share
Feels like a time to remember
seems like a time to recall
how in the hell did we get here
how far down the well, do we fall
what side of the line, will you be on
what side of the line, do you care
maybe losing your mind, was a blessing
maybe losing it all, was unfair
My Other War
Excavations of a world we call our own
in desperate
negotiation to keep
the knife off of the bone
I’m tired of stupid
I’m tired of lies
Its lost all meaning
We are not really alive
Lift your head and brace your shoulders
a world of brutes wants only soldiers
leave the hive without your tribe
and the world eats you alive
You call it research
I call it lies
you twist the meaning
to fit your compromise
We’re tired of stupid
We’re tired of lies
Its lost all meaning
we are not really alive
Revelations in the
dreams we walk alone
In measured
calculations to kill
the darkness in our souls
I’m tired of petty
these seeds
we’ve sown
I’m tired of tired
In fear of dying
all alone
Floatin down the river
Floatin down the river in my dead mans shoes
Dodgin all the debris screaming from the pews
hopin for a miracle but really needing two
hold on little darlin we got one more left to lose
Everything is changing not everything is new
landscapes re-arrangin traditions come unglued
Momma has her medicine and Daddy has the blues
All we took with us is our hog tied views
Flail’in down the river with the madhouse blues
cursing at the system, its cruelty and abuse
hopin that the oars don’t break and hoping for some news
pinin for a warm spot where I can dry my shoes
Hopin that the shit don’t rise and hoping for some clues
lookin for some landfall where I can park my blues
give us back our barbesol and give us back our shoes
now the rivers rising and there’s reckoning to do
Drowning in a river of our own refuse
graspin for intentions really ain’t no use
someone throw a line before it ain’t no good
I’m going down again I’m on my last breath too
There needs to be a reckoning there needs to be a truth
something to hold onto and something to abuse
ain’t no tears like yester tears its time to bust it loose
come on pretty momma its time for us to choose
Bobbin down the river with the cowboy blues
water logged and sinkin in my dead man shoes
thinkin that I’d run my luck and thinkin that I’m done
Father son and holy ghost the stalinists have won
There needs to be a reckoning there needs to be a truth
something to hold onto and something to abuse
give us back our barbasol and give us back our shoes
now the rivers rising and there’s reckoning to do
Nevermind
(Leonard Cohen/Pat Leonard)
The war was lost, the treaty signed
I was not caught, I crossed the line
I was not caught, though many tried
I live among you, well disguised
I had to leave, my life behind
I dug some graves, you’ll never find
The stories told with facts and lies
I had a name, but never mind
Nevermind Nevermind
The war was lost, the treaty signed
Theres truth that lives and truth that dies
I don’t know which so never mind
You’re victory was so complete
that some among
thought to keep
A record of our little lives
the clothes we wore our spoons our knives
the games of luck our soldiers played
the stones we cut, the songs we made
Our law of peace which understands
A husband leads, a wife commands
And all of this expressions of,
the sweet indifference
some call love
the high indifference some call fate
but we had names more intimate
Names so deep and names so true
the blood to me their dust to you
there is not need that this survive
Theres truth that lives and truth that dies
Nevermind Nevermind
I live the life I left behind
Theres truth that lives and truth that dies
I don’t know which, so never mind
I could not kill, the way you kill
I could not hate, I tried I failed
You turned me in, at least you tried
you side with them, whom you despise
This was your heart, this swarm of flies
This once was your mouth this bowl of lies
You serve them well, I’m not surprised
you’re of their kin, you’re of their kind
Nevermind Nevermind
I had to leave my life behind
The stories told with facts and lies
you own the world
so never mind
Nevermind Nevermind
I live the life I left behind
I live it full I live it wide
thru layers of time
you can’t divide
My woman here my children too
their graves are safe, from ghosts like you
in places deep with roots entwined
I live the life I left behind
The war was lost the treaty signed
I was not caught, I crossed the line
I was not caught though many tried
I live among you well disguised
LIFE TEARS (THE STRANGE)
track 1
scolds bridle
GAME BOARD & RULES
The gatefold art on the vinyl LP (out April/May and available for pre-order March 20th, 2023) features a board game designed by Panick & Blair Gauntt which draws on Razorhouse’s association with the Mayan Popol Vuh and incorporates touchstones of the band’s artistic history.
PLEASE CHECK BACK SOON
RULEMAKERS are UPDATING
ENTER THE RAZORHOUSE
1
Step One
____________
THE TWINNING
You and your twin lay a burning ember (a match) on a piece of ham (in a sink or metal tub please), and say , “Let us dance for the Xilbalbans, let us sacrifice ourselves!”
____________
The aged merchant god of the underworld spoke “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be ashamed. Just dance this way: first you’ll dance to sacrifice yourselves, you’ll set fire to my house after that, you’ll act out all the things you know. We want to be entertained. This is our hearts desire, the reason you had to be sent for, dear vagabonds. We’ll give you payment”. You and your twin collect seven bone skins and can move on.
2
Step Two
One and Seven Hunahpu went inside dark house, and a torch was brought along with seeing smoke, and the bearer said, “My lord gives you these, but they must be returned unused in the morning” One and Seven Hunahpu were dejected and without hope, they huddled in the corner until their torch went out.
________
In the morning they could roll the die twice to arrive at a seven or pay the torch bearer 2 bone skins to be shown the way.
_________
3
Step Three
And here began their song named “Camacu” they sang out the lament of their very hearts and guts.
“Alas!
We were lost at Tulan!
We shattered ourselves!
We left our elder brothers behind!
Our younger brothers!
Where did they see the sun?
Where must they be staying?
now that the dawn has come?”
________
You and your twin must sing the lament before proceeding
_____
4
Step Four
erase your faceSONG HOUSE
_____
Recite first 3 words of lyric of song to enter.
_____
One and Seven death want to wear your face to be you, if you leave without your face you will never be recognized not even by owls.
5
Step FiveLOST
Lost in the wastelands - wandering to find some purchase after giving up yours.
Lost in the wastelands - wandering to find some purchase after giving up yours.
Wailing Woman beseeches you to bring her to the other side of the wastelands. To do so you must remove the trash inside the cave of waste (your bathroom)
You and twin may move on.
6
Step Six
FLESH
Entering another cave we find distractions of the flesh. Entering another cave we find distractions of the flesh, Nine Deer tells of the coming of Lord Scab Stripper and Lord Blood Gatherer and their intentions to drain your blood. You or your twin must roll a 7 before they arrive.
7
Step SevenBEATEN
Another cave finds you beaten in pitch black with sharp fronds. Upon entry you and your twin are immediately beaten in pitch black with sharp fronds Lust Woman is laughing from across the room, she is taking her revenge for not responding to her advances. You and your twin must both roll 3’s before you are too injured to leave.
8
Step EightBANQUET
Dark night of the soul, though you have travelled far, your past loves and wrongs attend a banquet and how you handle yourself decides if you leave.
The Lord Demon of Woe has slipped into your head domain and you must find the path to quiet the thoughts. Thru meditation you and your twin can free yourselves from the continuous nightmare trail that Lord Demon of Woe drips from his war axe.
9
Step NineDEADMAN'S SHOES
Remove your deadmans shoes and jump into the river to start the game over.
Exhaustion and mental fatigue can be your worst enemy recognize when you need to care for your flesh and mind.
Its all too much and one often has the feeling of defaulting back to start to hope the wheel is more benevolent.
10
Step TenREBIRTH
Conjured back to life by blood magician McGuinness - Sometimes random conversations open doors you are unaware of, speak honestly and passionately and you will draw unto you shaman and witches and holymen and women and blood magicians to your journey. Even if they do not share their magic their company is worth the effort.
Sing of the beauty of connecting flowers cut wreaths for the Xilbalbans praise their mockery of death. Leave this room with a better understanding of positive chains of power.
11
Step ElevenFLOAT
Access to song house
floatin down river
Recite first 3 words of lyric of song to enter -
- Pour a small amount of water into a shoe and wait for it to dry while making a list of things to forgive yourself for.
After making the list of at least 3 things and reciting the leaving lyric you and your twin can move on.
12
Step Twelve
Nothing is as it appears 3 dimensions are moving but not in unison, you desperately hold onto one and wait for moments to cross into others.
You and your twin find yourself standing before The Daykeeper the Grandmother Xmucane. as they set out the days. “Just let it be found, just let it be discovered, say it, our ears are listening, may you talk, may you speak, just find the wood for the carving and sculpting by the builder, the sculptor. Is this to be the provider the nurturer when it comes to the planting, the dawning? You corn kernels, you coral seeds, you days, you lots: may you succeed, may you be accurate” You and your twin must read this out loud and chant “ALL hail the day keeper, the Grandmother Xmucane!”
2016 Codex Jun
Nothing is as it appears 3 dimensions are moving but not in unison, you desperately hold onto one and wait for moments to cross into others.
13
Step ThirteenAccess to song house Good loser and Scolds Bridle - Recite first 3 words of lyric of each song to enter and last 3 words to leave either house.
14
Step Fourteen2017 Codex DU
15
Step Fifteen2018 Codex Tres Lingua
16
Step Sixteen
There is no step 16
(freaky, eh?)
17
Step Seventeen
2021 Winter's Teeth/Meatwalker
18
Step Eighteen
More freakiness
19
Step Nineteen
2022 HOBO STOMP
20
Step Twenty
Access to song houses
morros day & nevermind
Recite first 3 words of lyric of song to enter
21
Step Twenty-One
CROSSOVER
22
Step Twenty-Two
2022 Scolds Bridle
23
24
Step Twenty-Four
EXIT
You move segment to segment performing rituals, you roll die when you decide to enter one of the “song rooms” to acquire tokens to buy your way out of the Xilbalbans hands at the end.
You can “jump” houses (only moving left to right or East to West) by rolling doubles.
As you enter each “song house” you must recite the first 3 words in the lyric of the song associated with that house.
And as you exit if you wish to retain the tokens your visit acquired you must recite the last 3 words of the lyric associated with that house.
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