Photo: Sarah Agudo

New Orthodox exposes the fallacy of toxic masculinity on “Glory”

The debut album from New Orthodox, Bull Market on Corn, will be released on Feb 7 via Joyful Noise. Anchored by songwriter and guitarist Nicholas Merz, the outfit allows him to vivisect American traditions through the lens of country music, though you’d be hard pressed to label it as such. His work has more in common with Nick Cave and Scott Walker than it does with George Jones and Johnny Cash, but the approach is similar, exploring the darker underbelly of society through the perspectives of people living on the fringe. The record is also one of the last that Steve Albini worked on before he passed away.

On new single “Glory”, he takes aim at toxic masculinity and warped recollections of “the good old times” with brutal accuracy. Aided by an ocean of droning pedal steel guitar tones, Merz speaks to self-aggrandizement and the lengths to which some people will go to relive their past successes. His voice is like granite, resolute and unmovable, though it possesses a slew of sly, caustic impulses that you can hear moving between each syllable. 

Merz shares: “Certainly not as the title suggests. When the voice began to push harder and create depth, Steve was patted on the back. ‘Did you gate the room mics for that effect?’ ‘No. The voice is simply exciting the room.’ Hallelujah.”

The video for the song was directed by Sarah Agudo and follows Merz and friend Richard Trembacz as they wander through the Hudson Valley, offering an intimate look at American domesticity and the personal perspectives of older generations which have been shaped over countless decades.

Watch the clip below.

 

Bull Market on Corn is due out Feb 7 via Joyful Noise. You can pre-order the album here. Follow New Orthodox on Instagram.