Matador "Above, Below And So" LP

Matador return in 2026 with Above, Below and So, a towering new statement in epic psychedelic post-metal, slated for release on 27th February via Church Road Records. Expansive yet crushing, the album captures the band at their most ambitious, defined by moments of vast, foreboding atmosphere, cinematic scope and immersive sonic depth.

Originally conceived in 2019 by guitarist and vocalist James Kirk, Matador began as a largely solitary vision. Kirk wrote and produced the debut They Were Here Before Us almost entirely alone, enlisting outside help only for drum tracking. That foundation soon evolved into a full creative force when Kirk joined with drummer Scott Stronach and bassist Mark Ainsworth in 2020.

The trio’s chemistry was fully realised on their sophomore album The Surge (2021), recorded and engineered at Rain City Recorders by acclaimed producer Jesse Gander (Western Canadian Music Awards “Engineer of the Year”, two-time Juno Award recipient). The album struck a chord across the underground post-rock, post-metal and stoner scenes, earning features on influential discovery platforms such as Where Post Rock Dwells, 666MrDoom, Underrated Albums and Weedian.

With Above, Below and So, Matador push their sound further than ever before. The album sees the band diving deeper into technical, meticulously crafted compositions, blending delicate, haunting melodies with brutal doom-laden riffs and powerful, hypnotic rhythms. The result is a richly cinematic experience, both immersive and confrontational that draws the listener deeper into Matador’s evolving universe.

Above, Below and So stands as Matador’s most vivid and fully realised work to date: a formidable, atmospheric journey that cements their place at the forefront of modern psychedelic post-metal.

Track Listing :
1. The House Always Wins
2. Glitter Skin
3. The Flood
4. O Suna
5. A Virus
6. Hooks