LAVISHER: Lush Second LP From Chicago Alt-Rock/Grunge Quartet, Aligned & Vital, Out Today And Streaming Everywhere On Nefarious Industries

photos by Lena Jackson

Chicago’s self-dubbed velvet-grunge collective LAVISHER presents their second LP, Aligned & Vital LP, out today on Nefarious Industries and streaming everywhere.

LAVISHER is the creation of Chicago singer, songwriter, and guitarist Gavin Cushman III and drummer Benjamin Standage. With a sound that nods to Queens Of The Stone Age and A Perfect Circle, and hints of Deftones and Failure, LAVISHER conjures lush, distorted dreamscapes where beauty and decay meld inside a river of riffage. Formed in the summer of 2017, the band issued a self-titled five-song statement of intent followed by the 2019 debut full-length Drastic Shadows released through experimental-leaning Nefarious Industries. During the pandemic, a trio of standalone singles were recorded and released.

In 2023, Cushman connected with drummer Benjamin Standage, sparking a new creative phase. The two quickly began writing together, resulting in a full-length album which now arrives as Aligned & Vital. As LAVISHER continues to carve their niche in the modern rock landscape, their message is clear: the future of heavy, heartfelt rock has arrived—and it’s dressed in velvet. With twelve new tracks in just over forty-two minutes, the diverse LP delivers a wide spectrum of lush songs comfortably rooted in both nostalgia and exploration.

Aligned & Vital was written by LAVISHER founder Gavin Cushman III and Benjamin Standage, except “Way Too Much” written by Andrew Cushman. The vocals, guitars, bass, and synths were performed by Gavin Cushman III – the guitars and bass engineered by Adrian Kobziar at Ohmstead Recording and the vocals engineered by Cushman – and the drums performed by Benjamin Standage and engineered by Pete Grossman at Bricktop Recording. The album was mixed by Adrian Kobziar, mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, and completed with original artwork/photography by Puzzleman Leung, portrait photography by Lena Jackson, and design/layout by Greg Meisenberg.

**Immerse yourself in LAVISHER’s Aligned & Vital, now streaming on all platforms and available on Ultra Clear 12″ vinyl LP and digipak CD at Nefarious Industries RIGHT HERE**.

Expect additional videos from the album and more to be posted shortly.

Having just performed several local gigs in support of the album, LAVISHER is booking new live events for the months ahead.

“The chord progressions are a treat. The atmosphere is lush and thick. The vibes are a fun blend of eras. There’s not a lot of reasons that you shouldn’t give it a spin this November, especially if you love grunge and post-grunge with a blend of some 80s glam.” – Metal Epidemic

“…said to be their most vulnerable track yet! The song is buoyed by a quirky opening riff, shimmering dream-pop guitar licks, a generous low-end, and a great groove! Marked by a killer chorus and great harmony vocals, this song is catchy as hell!” – Ghost Cult Magazine (of the song “Detached)

“…a record that showcases their unique ability to paint lush, distorted realms where beauty and decay dissolve into a swirling river of sound… a record which captures an expansive blend of vibrant tracks that fuse retro charm with forward thinking soundscapes.” – Out Of Rage