The Lords of Outland

Founded in 1994, the Lords of Outland is a rotating collective of ensemble members under the direction of saxophonist and producer Rent Romus. In 1995 Romus submitted a video to the then fledgling BET Channel's National Network Show "Jazz Central". As the judges visibly struggled with The Lords’ rendition Eric Dolphy’s “Out to Lunch”, while looking balefully into the camera, he knew this band was bound to challenge the status quo.

Descent of the Avatar (sample) music player
Until They Open Their Eyes Godzilla Sleeps (sample) music player

Throughout the Lords' fifteen year history its core roster has changed numerous times featuring guests John Tchicai, James Zitro, Kash Killion, and many others. The group released two recordings in the ninties “You’ll Never Be the Same” in 1995 and, “Adapt…or Die!” in 1997. In 2000, Romus produced a dedication to Albert Ayler, “Avatar in the Field” and in 2002 along side his partner and wife CJ Borosque, the group released music to her book of poetry entitled The Metal Quan Yin. Continuing to perform and record live shows up and down the West Coast through the latter half of the decade, Romus discovered he and the Lords had fallen into a realm known to some as "Free Jazz Metal" (or some variation thereof). This back alley sub-genre seems to have metamorphosed from the seeds of free jazz mixed with the fires of a new generation of instrumentalists who were influenced by 60's and 70's rock as well as punk, metal and noise. This incubation and virulent growth of the sub-genre spurred The Lords’ last three recent releases aptly named “Culture of Pain” in 2005, “You can sleep when you're dead!” in 2007, and “The Pit “ in 2009.

The group currently features CJ Borosque no-input pedals and trumpet, Philip Everett drums, percussion and electronics, and Ray Schaeffer electric basses, lead by Rent Romus on alto, soprano, C-melody saxophones, voice, and electronics. Contained in XV are live public recordings many of which have never been released on disc one from 1994-2008 and, on disc two a new full length project recorded in 2009. Other performing artists who have participated in the Lords of Outland include Jason Olain, Vytas Nagisetty, Andrew Borger, Bill Noertker, David Mihaly, Toyoji Tomita, Joel Harrison, Tom Nunn, Doug Carroll, Andre Custodio, Jesse Quattro, and Jonas Westergaard.

"Safely, if not sanely put, Lords of Outland imagines Jaco Pastorius playing armor outfitted basketball with a band of crazed bassists and saxophonists. The rhythms run amok, the melodies are anything but friendly, and nausea and sickness is sure to follow."
- Ken Micallef