BIO
Thūn (or Thun for the sake of web optimisation) began as an outlet for new music created during the Coronavirus pandemic of 2020/21. Guitarist/vocalist Jon had an enormous backlog of material that was not going to make it out into the world in the name of his “main band” Monsterworks or anonymously as Bull Elephant (did we say “anonymous?” d’oh) anytime soon, simply due to restricted travel, inaccessibility to studios and jam spaces. So the only solution was to find new ways to remotely record and produce the music. Jon is based in Milton Keynes, just north of London, UK.
The first man on board was James Knoerl on drums. Being a professional session drummer, he had the gear set up and ready to go. James is based in Manhattan – NYC.
Next up was Hugo (from Monsterworks) on bass. While Jon considered other session options, in the end of course it was blindingly obvious to try keep at least some of Thūn in the Monsterworks family where it should have been all along. Hugo has played on every song written by Jon since 2003, so why break that cycle?! Besides, he is a finger player and had a new bass (made by our buddy Neil) to try out. Hugo is based in London, UK.
Finally…who to play lead?
About ten years ago Jon met Karl Sanders for a guitar lesson before a Nile gig in London. Since Karl’s name popped up after a bit of research looking for session players, he seemed like a logical choice given the earlier, albeit tenuous, connection. Karl liked the material and particularly appreciated the doominess, being a little different to his usual projects.
Thematically, Thūn is intended to be “Bull Elephant adjacent.” In other words, the lyrical concept draws from the same loosely Lovecraftian mythology. The difference is that, rather than set in and around World War II, with Nazis as the antagonists, Thūn takes place in modern day or near future. The antagonists are every corporation or person that puts profit before preservation of the natural world. With tentacles. In other words, the band can be broadly described as influenced by the twin threat of environmental destruction and eldritch horror!
Thūn is concept based with at least four albums planned. How do we know that? Because the drums have already been laid down for the second thru fourth albums.
Will the band ever play live? Who knows. Where there is a will, i.e. demand, there is a way. No plans as yet though.
NEWS:
31 March 2023: Just a random update. Bass has been tracked for a third album by Linus Klausenitzer (ex-Obscura). Hugo stepped aside for this one, simply due to the many other projects we have running. Moose Cult seemed to take priority, so that has been his focus….along with the alter-ego.
1 July 2022: Release date of second album.
16 June 2021: Release date of debut album.
17 May 2021: press release imminent. Looks like release date will be 16 June 2021. Artbooks arrived.
11 February 2021: pre-mixed tracks have gone off to Damian Herring (Horrendous) for mastering.
19 January 2021: James has finished tracking drums for a second Thūn album. But, hell’s teeth, we better get on with finishing and releasing the first one before taking no. 2 too much further.
Q&A
What does the name “Thūn” mean?
Good question. We wanted something short and sweet; kind of the equivalent of pointing a finger accusingly “Thūn!” At first Jon thought he invented the name, including putting whatever that little line is called over the “u” but a quick google search showed that it is also the name of a mythical centaur-like creature from Raymond E. Fiest’s Riftwar Saga. “Magician” was Jon’s favourite book in high school…so that was some coincidence and probably the name had been floating in the back of his head since then.
There may have also been a subconscious connection/tribute to Greta Thunberg, that little girl from Sweden whose mind is controlled by the great global climate conspiracy.
Jon’s views may not be shared by the rest of the Thūn band. He never asked.
What is with an artbook release rather than a CD or vinyl?
This is something Jon was determined to follow through on. The last thing the world needs is another splatter vinyl or, even more unfathomably, a cassette release. Both are degraded audio signals compared to the 24 bit file that came out of the other end of the mastering process.
To put it bluntly, all physical formats are unnecessary and are a waste of resources (to manufacture). People have lost sight of what it should be about, which is the music. At the same time, having a physical object to examine and read along with the music is pretty cool and what we grew up with in the old days. That is where the artbook comes in. This is made from renewable resources and is sized to fit within minimal “large envelope” dimensions for sending around the world. By contrast an LP costs a bleeding fortune to ship.
The best way to consume music is to buy the lossless download direct from the band, cutting out all middle men. Such download should have an electronic version of the lyric book/liner notes. For those that absolutely have to have a physical release/collectable – get the artbook.
In any case you will never find a Thūn release on Spotify or any other subscription streaming service. All of these exist purely to devalue music and make it untenable as a career. If you subscribe to one of these services, know that you are part of the problem.