Get A 'Taste' Of The Jaggernauts’ Latest Album
forthcoming record pays homage to former band member, John Buxton, with a release show slated for Sept. 5
Evelyn Nelson, photos by Andrea Paulseth |
Eau Claire's The Jaggernauts have their eyes — and ears — set on a new album, a powerful and heartfelt collection of "horror-punk" songs which celebrate the lives and musical contributions of members past and present.
The Jaggernauts' seventh release and fifth album, “Taste The Jaggernauts,” will drop on Sept. 5 on Bandcamp. An album release show will be held the same night at The Mousetrap Tavern, located at 311 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire.
Since their formation in 2004, the band's history will enter “Mark 6” with the release of the forthcoming nine-track album. Noel Hanson, a longtime member, guitarist, and vocalist, has spearheaded the band since its inception.
The Jaggernauts' past releases — characterized by "slacker horror" subgenres — blend sci-fi aesthetics with rock and alternative sounds. Rather than strictly adhering to genres like horror, rock or punk, The Jaggernauts focus on crafting a unique mood and imagery with each new project.
Their eighth album is described by the group as their “vampire record.” These themes are brought to the (after)life through the album's title and final track, “Taste the Blood.”
“We always have these little funny horror connection points,” Adam Luchsinger, a guitarist in the band, shared.
“Originally (the album) was going to be called ‘Taste The Blood of The Jaggernauts,’ but we cut that part out because we thought ‘Taste The Jaggernauts’ was a little turvier and more amusing," Matt Florence, a longtime guitarist and vocalist part of the band, humorously added.
As the group recalled creating the album, they reminisced on how their personal lives intricately influenced each track, from the cover artwork to the song titles and the people who brought the vision to life.
With this in mind, “Taste The Jaggernauts” will also be a tribute to John Buxton, both a member of the band and multi-instrumentalist in his own right, who passed away in 2024.
“Headpool,” a track on the forthcoming record, was written by John and exemplifies his timeless sound and natural experimentation with The Jaggernauts. It is one of several tracks on the album that features John's final recordings with the ensemble, Adam said.
“John was always able to find ways to make his parts stand out and play something different from what I was playing,” Adam said. “I always thought (his bass) sounded like a heart beat.”
“He was a hyper-talented guy,” Matt added. “We hope that spirit of musical exploration — that John was always down for — will continue.”
Jodi Hanson, also a longtime supporter of The Jaggernauts, officially joined the group as a vocalist in recent years. She noted John's self-expression is clear in “Taste The Jaggernauts.” Listening back to each track’s recordings brings back fond memories.
“John always put out a joy when he was playing,” Jodi said. “You could tell he really loved it and I like being able to hear that (love) in this album.”
Songwriting and the wider music industry are consistently characterized by tension and release, Matt observed over the years. These themes, coupled with several factors — most notably, for the band, John's passing last year and the COVID-19 pandemic — ultimately led to the postponement of the “Taste The Jaggernauts” album.
The Jaggernauts recorded their nine new tracks across two primary sessions: one in 2021 and another in 2023. Additional tracking sessions followed the 2023 recording stage, with further vocal and keyboard parts added after John's passing.
Dave Schoenrock has assumed the role of the band's new bass player, intending to carry on John's musical contributions from the record in future live performances and beyond.
Adam and Matt noted minor differences in Dave's sonic influences — such as his use of a pick versus finger-plucking techniques — and yet, the band remains committed to injecting new energy into their evolving sound, while staying true to qualities which best represented their friend John.
“Taste The Jaggernauts” was mixed by Chris Ramey, who also contributes as a guitarist, plus synth and vocals. The record will be released with Crustacean Records, an independent record label based in Madison.
Prior to the “Taste The Jaggernauts” release, the band released the eighth track on the album, “Tuura! Tuura! Turra!,” which the group describes as an intentionally heavier, slower, “sludgier” song.
“If you listen to (The Jaggernauts’) back catalog, it's very different from any song we've ever written,” Adam shared. “(Matt) once described it as our ‘stompy song.’ ”
Matt explained that Jodi's additional "over-the-top" vocal renditions on the track perfectly complemented the rhythms contributed by the other musicians.
Looking ahead, following the album’s release show in Eau Claire — and for many audiences, the introduction to Mark 6 of The Jaggernauts — the group will continue performing live in a regional tour across the states of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
As one chapter ends and another begins, new music is on the horizon, as always for The Jaggernauts. The band is already crafting their next album, they teased.
The Jaggernauts will perform their new album, “Taste The Jaggernauts,” live starting at 9pm at The Mousetrap Tavern in downtown Eau Claire. They will be joined by Rank Strangers and The Overdrafts. Physical copies of the new album will be available for purchase, locally, at Abraxas Wax and Revival Records in downtown Eau Claire. For more information about The Jaggernauts, visit their Bandcamp or Facebook page online (@TheJaggernauts).
