It's a wonder the members of the Sioux Falls, SD-based post rock outfit Lot Lizard are only now making music together. 

The 4-piece is comprised of stalwarts of the diverse and growing independent music scene found in South Dakota's largest city. Drummer Brogan Costa has played garage, screamo and straightforward rock in the city for 17 years. Bassist Pat Nelson has spent 24 playing guitars with punk, ska, rock, industrial and plenty more. Heavy garage formed the foundation of guitarist Benjamin Swank's reputation in Sioux Falls, while Lot Lizard's youngest member, Lindy Wise, cut his teeth with gothic rock and experimental noise. 

They've shared plenty of bills, but Lot Lizard's formation in 2017 represents their first shared project. It quickly became clear to local show-goers that this was a set of musicians whose talents were uniquely suited to fit together.

Fans of Joy Division, Scientists, Bauhaus, Jesus Lizard or The Jesus and Mary Chain will find much to love in the group's songcraft and the slow-burning intensity of its live shows. But Lot Lizard's remarkably cohesive sound is distinct from those spiritual forebears, built as it was from friendship, mutual respect and experience on small Midwestern stages (not to mention garages, basements and Legion halls).

The songs on the band's self-titled debut album capture the dynamic energy that's made the band a local favorite and earned accolades at shows from Colorado to Illinois.

Lindy's emotive baritone cuts a threatening, hushed desperation into the sonic tapestry, droning lyrics that sound as though they've only barely managed to escape from a throat choked by shame or regret, self doubt or betrayal, or perhaps the accumulated weight of it all.

As Pat and Brogan's steady, building rhythms push Lindy's low, dark rumbles into tortured howls of aggression, Ben's humming guitar flourishes rise to meet them in a wailing call and response that leaves the listener with little choice but to be sucked into its jarring, cathartic release. Such moments feel awfully heavy for a band whose music is too nuanced to be described as heavy in any conventional genre sense. Which, of course, is part of the draw.

Lot Lizard blends elements of punk, goth, noise, shoegaze, and psychedelic rock to make music that feels familiar to fans of any or all those styles.

Lot Lizard’s self-titled debut album was recorded in Sioux Falls, South Dakota beginning in May 2018 by Chad Konrad at Pony Creek Studios and Chad McKinney at Barkey Lounge. It was mixed by Neil Weir at Blue Bell Knoll and mastered by Mike Nolte at Eureka Mastering.