Cor de Lux are getting closer to releasing their Ipecac Recordings debut album, YEAR OF THE HORSE, on 18th Sept, which captures their competing impulses: abrasion and melody.
Across nine songs, the Kill Devil Hills quartet balances post-hardcore urgency, shoegaze bliss, and guitar-driven catharsis. Recorded and produced by J. Robbins (War on Women, Mary Timony), YEAR OF THE HORSE preserves the raw chemistry that defines the band while pushing their songwriting into sharper, more immediate territory.
Today the band share a final preview of the album with the release of ‘Blind Smile’, a track about the beauty in the complete freedom to be who you are.
“The blind man smile, the deaf laugh for all to hear, to be so brave, you can’t hear anyone”
AA
About the track, Dawn Moraga says, “My cousin is deaf and his true laugh that isn’t altered from what he thinks he should laugh like is one of the most joyous sounds. I think this song is about for me personally trying to find that freedom to not care about what people think of me and to dig deep to find the real. It came together with John and I talking about the beauty from a true smile.. the blind smile.”
John Bliven adds, “The title for ‘Blind Smile’ came about because I wanted to illustrate an event that inspired and humbled me when I was a videographer during a Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) Fishing Tournament, an event that brings hundreds of VIPs to the Outer Banks every year. I got to witness the most joy filled smiles I’ve ever encountered as they felt the scales of the fish and commented about the texture and sliminess as they saw with other senses.”
COR DE LUX LIVE:
Aug. 29, 2026 Raleigh, NC Lump Gallery
September 10 Raleigh, NC Hopscotch Festival @ Kings
September 20 Durham, NC Stanczyks +
October 7 Philadelphia, PA Ortlieb’s
October 8 Brooklyn, NY The Broadway
October 10 Toronto, ON Lee’s Palace *
October 11 Detroit, MI El Club *
October 13 Chicago, IL Outset *
October 14 St. Paul, MN Turf Club *
October 15 Davenport, IA Raccoon Motel
October 17 Louisville, KY Whirling Tiger
October 18 Asheville, NC Static Age
* supporting Slift
+ supporting W.I.T.C.H.
AA
Aural Aggravation 