Originally seeing the light of day in April of 1992, »Harsh 70s Reality« was not just a high water mark for that year, but for the ages. Technically this was the band’s fourth long-play outing, and as a double-album, it followed (and was ever so slightly informed by) two formidable juggernauts that preceeded it: »Twin Infinitives« and »Lake«. But it was »Harsh 70s Reality« that left the decade stronger and more resonant than it came in.

A 2012 anniversary edition-replete with gatefold sleeve-came and went fairly quickly, so in 2023 it was agreed that it should stalk the earth yet again, this time akin to original packaging and viola; this time with a flat matte jacket finish, insert + updated audio shepherding courtesy of Josh Stevenson (Cindy Lee, Famous Mammals, Puppet Wipes, Alastair Galbraith, etc).

People say that rock music died with the passing of Kurt Cobain. But The Dead C slaughtered it in its sleep with this tremendous set of grinding thud. It is in every sense the ultimate post-rock album. To hear it is to understand why one scribe back in the day referred to their sound as »a garbage truck backing over the abyss.«