‘South of Loathsome’ by Big’n | New Album, ‘End Comes Too Soon’
Big’n is about to hit us with their latest sonic blast, ‘End Comes Too Soon,’ set to drop on November 15th, 2024, via Computer Students™. Today they are sharing the second song from it, ‘South of Loathsome.’
It’s their third full-length record and the first in almost three decades. This time around, they’re coming out swinging with three LP editions (Standard, Deluxe, and Limited [Red]) and a digital release.
For those unfamiliar with Big’n, the Chicago noise rockers have been crushing eardrums since 1990. Their lineup includes William Akins on vocals, Todd Johnson on guitar, Fred Popolo handling bass, and Brian Wnukowski behind the drum kit. After shaking the scene with their debut, they cemented their status with ‘Discipline Through Sound,’ dropped a split single with Shellac, then dipped into hiatus territory. But when they re-emerged in 2010, they weren’t messing around—releasing a compilation, touring Europe, and hitting the festival circuit stateside. Their most recent offerings, ‘Knife of Sin’ (2018) and ‘DTS 25’ (2022), showcased the raw Albini-recorded sound they’re known for, both coming out under the Computer Students™ banner.
Fast forward to 2024, and Big’n is back to deliver ‘End Comes Too Soon’—an album that packs the same punch they’ve been throwing since day one. The record highlights Brian’s meticulously tight drumming, Fred’s metallic bass lines holding the fort, Todd’s raw guitar riffing, and William’s emotionally charged vocals that sound like he’s dragging every listener through a hellish therapy session.
The album was captured by Shane Hochstetler at Electrical Audio—Steve Albini’s legendary Chicago studio. Fun fact: Side A was laid down in Studio A, while Side B was recorded in Studio B, entirely by coincidence. And, despite the chilling relevance of its title, End Comes Too Soon isn’t a direct reference to the tragic passing of Albini in May 2024. Still, in a bittersweet twist, the album stands as an indirect tribute to the man, his studio, and everything he represented.
The release is going to be slick. You’ve got the Standard edition on 180-gram vinyl, a Deluxe edition wrapped in tactile Type-2 aluminum packaging (complete with a poster), and the digital version. But for those wanting something extra special, there’s a super limited run of just 70 copies housed in Type-1 aluminum packaging with a unique red print. You’ll only find these on Computer Students™’ website, so keep an eye out.
As for the music itself, the single ‘South of Loathsome’ is a ferocious introduction to the record. It’s the band firing on all cylinders, their rhythm section a relentless machine while Akins’ vocals teeter between madness and wrath. It starts explosively and evolves into something primal and fully realized by the end—a fitting taste of what’s to come.
Pre-order ‘End Comes Too Soon’ here!
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Computer Students™ Official Website / Instagram
Big’n | Interview | New album, ‘DTS 25′
