Apocalypticism by Ryan Michael Patterson

Apocalypticism is the debut instrumental album from Louisville-based musician and visual artist Ryan Michael Patterson. Best known for his work with Fotocrime, the post-punk group he currently fronts, and Coliseum, the trailblazing hardcore punk band he founded and led from 2003-2015, Patterson steps into thrilling new territory on Apocalypticism.

Inspired equally by the raw and iconic spaghetti western scores by Ennio Morricone and the fizzling crunch of early synth-punk like Suicide and DAF, Patterson wrote, performed, and recorded Apocalypticism on his own at his House of Foto recording studio. Created entirely with analog instruments and effects, the album stands apart from the omnipresent generic software synth sounds that pay homage to 1980s soundtracks. Oozing with analog warmth and grit, Apocalypticism presents a unique vision of punk-tinged instrumental songs, ranging from hook-laden themes to tense orchestrated movements. From the first notes of piano through an ancient tape delay, the listener hears the rotating edges of the loop and the crackles of the peeling magnetic tape crossing the echo heads. Throughout the album, jangling Fender Jaguar guitars twang through the pulsing vibrato of Twin Reverb amps while ancient Japanese drum machines throb into deep tube-driven spring reverb tanks.

This sonic concept album enables the listener to hear the soundtrack of a film playing in their own imagination. Apocalypticism is a bold and exciting new chapter in the storied career of Ryan Patterson — a musician respected around the globe for his boundless creativity, unique musical perspective, and tireless drive to reach ever-further in his artistic journey.

Ryan Patterson is a Louisville, Kentucky-based musician and visual artist best known for his work with Fotocrime, the post-punk group he currently fronts, and Coliseum, the trailblazing hardcore punk band he founded and led from 2003-2015. Patterson is also widely known for his artwork and design for his Cat Magic Punks brand and for album covers and t-shirts for hundreds of bands.