We’d heard whisperings of something exciting rippling around the Pacific North West over the past few years. People told us of a new young band who were progressively melding a variety of genres and dazzling with their live performances. Those whispers were also picked up by our good friends at The Flenser who promptly scooped up Rhododendron and put their name to their sophomore album. Ascent Effort was released earlier this year to broad critical acclaim, and now the Portland-based ensemble are heading to Roadburn.
The technicality possessed by this trio – who met in high school – is not at the expense of emotional intensity. Unfurling across five tracks, Ascent Effort slopes its way effortlessly through post-hardcore and noise rock, infusing a frenetic sliver of angular avant-garde jazz rock into the mix. With the addition of tape loops and ambient elements, Rhododendron embody a certain kind of rawness and realness that we can’t wait to experience up close and personal.
The band comments: “We are beyond grateful to Roadburn for the opportunity to join their community. We’re ecstatic to fulfill our long-awaited dream of taking our music overseas, to hang with friends new and old, and to develop ourselves and our music further.”
Rhododendron explore many facets of heaviness – from the glacial, foggy atmospheres through to the frenzied maelstroms of noise – making them the perfect addition to Roadburn 2027.
