H.A.Q.Q. is the fourth studio album by the American band Liturgy. It was released on November 12, 2019 as a surprise digital release, and physically in February 2020 through main artist Haela Hunt-Hendrix's label YLYLCYN.[1] It was primarily recorded and produced in August 2019.
| H.A.Q.Q. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 12, 2019 | |||
| Recorded | August 2019 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:11 | |||
| Label | YLYLCYN | |||
| Producer | Haela Hunt-Hendrix | |||
| Liturgy chronology | ||||
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| Singles from H.A.Q.Q. | ||||
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Background and concept
editThe press release for H.A.Q.Q. describes the record as "a consolidation of the band's sound to date," as well as "Liturgy’s most vulnerable record for Hunter Hunt-Hendrix, addressing anger and struggles around mental health, sexuality, and religion."[2] The album title is an acronym for "Haelegen above Quality and Quantity".[2] Haelegen is a function within Hunt-Hendrix's belief system, which she previously explored through the record New Introductory Lectures on the System of Transcendental Qabala (2016); this belief system is expressed as a diagram on the cover of the album.
The album is tied to an ongoing series of philosophical lectures by Hunt-Hendrix on YouTube, which details the system of concepts portrayed by the diagram on its cover.[3]
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metal Storm | 8.6/10[4] |
| Pitchfork | 7.6/10[5] |
Pitchfork gave the album a 7.6 out of 10, calling it "their most aggressive and radical album yet."[6] H.A.Q.Q. was ranked #30 of 2019 by fans on Rate Your Music,[7] and Kerrang! called it one of the ten best surprise-released rock albums of all time.[8]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Haela Hunt-Hendrix
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hajj" | 8:30 |
| 2. | "Exaco I" | 2:19 |
| 3. | "Virginity" | 3:58 |
| 4. | "Pasaqalia" | 5:18 |
| 5. | "Exaco II" | 2:16 |
| 6. | "God of Love" | 8:05 |
| 7. | "Exaco III" | 4:00 |
| 8. | "Haqq" | 7:03 |
| 9. | ". . . ." | 3:42 |
| Total length: | 45:11 | |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Pasaqalia II" | 3:06 |
| Total length: | 48:17 | |
- All track titles are stylized in all uppercase.
Personnel
edit- Liturgy
- Haela Hunt-Hendrix – guitar, vocals, electronics, piano (track 5, 7, 9), bells (track 5, 6), production
- Bernard Gann – guitar
- Tia Vincent-Clark – bass
- Leo Didkovsky – drums, glockenspiel (track 4, 6)
- Additional personnel
- Marilu Donovan – harp (track 1, 3, 6, 8)
- Lucie Vítková – hichiriki (track 1)
- Eric Wubbels – piano (track 2)
- Adam Robinson – ryuteki (track 1)
- Tadlow Ensemble – strings (track 4, 6)
- Cory Bracken – vibraphone (track 4, 6)
- Charlotte Mundy – voice (track 1, 3)
- Matt Colton – mastering
- Seth Manchester – mixing
References
edit- ^ "Liturgy Surprise Release New Album H.A.Q.Q.: Listen". Pitchfork. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ a b "H.A.Q.Q. | Liturgy". Bandcamp. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- ^ Hunter Hunt-Hendrix (January 30, 2020). The Four Arenas of Transcendental Qabala. Retrieved February 13, 2020 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Liturgy - H.A.Q.Q. review". Metal Storm. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
- ^ Grayson Haver Currin (November 19, 2019). "H.A.Q.Q. on Pitchfork". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "H.A.Q.Q.:". Pitchfork. November 12, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
- ^ "H.A.Q.Q.:". Rate Your Music. November 12, 2019. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ "10 of the Greatest Surprise-Released Rock Albums Ever:". Kerrang!. January 19, 2020. Retrieved February 13, 2020.