Season To Risk
In A Perfect World
Season to Risk’s In a Perfect World returns to vinyl for the first time since its original 1995 release. Remastered by Duane Trower at Weights and Measures Soundlab in Kansas City and featuring updated artwork, the band’s second full-length and Columbia Records debut is a relentless slab of dissonant, industrial-tinged hardcore. Fueled by years on the road and produced by Martin Bisi (Sonic Youth, Swans, Helmet) the record channels pure chaos — uneasy melodies buried beneath distortion, feral vocals, and a rhythm section that never lets go. A defining document of '90s noise rock, now louder and rawer than ever.
30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
- Remastered with updated artwork
- Handwritten innersleeve with newly discovered line drawings by Derek Hess
- Limited to 1500 copies on Baby Blue vinyl
AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FOR RECORD STORE DAY BLACK FRIDAY ON NOVEMBER 28TH
about the album
In 1994, Season to Risk had been on tour for the past four years, playing as a young opening band on legendary shows with Killdozer, Unsane, Neurosis, Prong and Killing Joke. Their first album had sold well with songs charting on radio and getting music video airtime on MTV and Canada's Much Music. There was an opportunity to take advantage of the popular wave of alt rock and nu metal dominating the airwaves. Being signed unexpectedly to major label Columbia Records put them in the position that they had amazing support as artists, but also someone to answer to and the machine must be fed.
Season to Risk decided instead to work with Martin Bisi (producer of Sonic Youth, Foetus, Swans, Cop Shoot Cop) and use their major label money to deliver a punishing post hardcore masterpiece of crushing noise rock. This is the first appearance of the Paul Malinowski and Jason Gerken rhythm section, who both went on to join Shiner, also from Kansas City. Exploring a darker and more mysterious realm, singer Steve Tulipana mood swings between distorted screams and whispered dreams. Guitarist Duane Trower plays melodies with harmonics and feedback as much as standard guitar, usually favoring more dissonant almost-jazz chords.
Martin Bisi’s gigantic subterranean studio allowed their more-industrial-than-metal vision to be realized. The band lived in New York City for the Summer of 1994 recording this record, before Gerken had to return to the midwest for Molly McGuire. Artist Derek Hess was hired for the iconic dystopian artwork, a longtime friend who had booked and made posters for many shows in Cleveland. The band recruited a new full-time drummer David Silver, and began touring the music of "In A Perfect World" for the last months of 1994. They toured all year to support the 1995 album release (with Monster Magnet, Corrosion of Conformity, 7 Year Bitch, and others), and created two music videos (Blood Ugly and Jack Frost).
Now remastered by Duane Trower (Weights & Measures Soundlab), this 30th Anniversary Edition gains new clarity without losing its raw urgency.
Tour Dates
No upcoming events.
PRAISE FOR IN A PERFECT WORLD
“Leaning more into the chaotic noise rock of early Soundgarden, Killdozer, or The Jesus Lizard, with a manic rhythm section, and Lemmy-meets-Buzz Osborne vocals…”
“Jagged, discordant, and unrelenting — a vitriolic stew of fire and brimstone that sets a new high-water mark for dissonant hardcore rock.”
“Cheese wire guitars and throaty vocals meet Pantera dragged through Shellac — played loud, it damages. Fists don’t come much more clenched than this.”