Sacred Bones has long been closely linked with tight-knit regional punk scenes, with roster artists representing everything from the icy precision of Copenhagen (Vår, Lust for Youth) to the acid-fried psych vibes of Tempe, Arizona, (Destruction Unit) to the grimy lawlessness of New York City (The Men, Pop. 1280, Anasazi). Institute stands at the center of another thriving scene in Austin, Texas, and we’re proud to be releasing their Salt EP.
Formed in Austin in March 2013, Institute includes members of Wiccans, Glue, Blotter, Recide and more. Before they were even a proper band, singer Moses Brown had a couple of raw post-punk songs sitting on a four-track at his house. Once the lineup solidified, the band touched up one of those songs (“Dead Sea”) for a demo, then quickly wrote enough material to flesh out that demo (re-released on Deranged), a seven-inch (on Katorga Works), and now their debut EP for Sacred Bones.
We fell in love with this band as soon as we heard those early anarcho punk-influenced demos, and then saw a blistering set from them in their hometown earlier this year. The Salt EP is as sharp as the band’s earlier work but suggests longer, more experimental forms (“An Absence”) and a more incisive lyrical perspective, dealing with topics from existentialism to Brown’s experience as a closeted youth. Institute have already toured with their new labelmates in Destruction Unit, and we’re elated to officially welcome these young men into our family.
