Bassoon driven avant-garde trio BRIAN! cover a variety of introspective themes and sonic concepts on their fifth studio album The Cataclysmic Engine. Nine angular and heavy compositions blend whole-tone, non-western, modal scales with frenzied meter and tempo while taking inspiration from finding queer identity (“Rose”), the awe of passionate relationships blossoming out of childhood trauma (“Intemperate to Death”), and embracing brevity when dealing with vulnerability (“Smol”).

BRIAN! was formed in Ithaca, NY in 2009 by classically trained bassoonist David Resig and experimental multi-instrumentalist Bubba Crumrine (Amok & OK, Mouth To Mouth To Mouth), fleshing out their vision with the addition of percussionist Willie B (Tzar, Johnny Dowd, Black Castle, Jaimie Lidell, Eszter Balint, Jayne County). In the past decade since their formation BRIAN! have shared the stage with Guerilla Toss, Kayo Dot, Giraffes? Giraffes!, Tyondai Braxton, Behold the Arctopus, Upsilon Acrux, Bangladeafy, Desertion Trio, Les Rhinoceros, Many Arms, Charlie Looker, Amirtha Kidambi/Elder Ones, Sarah Hennies, Powerdove, Too Many Zooz, Zevious, and many more.

Inspiration struck in the summer of 2019 to forge the trio's latest offering, The Cataclysmic Engine, a coalescence of the band’s characteristic sounds distilled to their purest, most direct, and urgent form. Resig & Crumrine trade lead, rhythm, and low-end responsibilities while Willie B propels the trio with deft creativity on the kit. The band is joined by saxophonist Keir Neuringer (Irreversible Entanglements, Dromedaries) who performs saxophone on “Wholed” and bass clarinet on “Vibrato.” The Cataclysmic Engine was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Matthew Saccuccimorano at Electric Wilburland Studio and completed with artwork by Sam "Skullboy" Mameli.