Dischord announced the release of a long-shelved Fugazi recording session made with Steve Albini in 1992, giving fans a first official look at material that stayed unheard for decades. The project brings back early versions of songs that later appeared on In on the Kill Taker, the band’s 1993 studio album.
The label said the recordings were made at Albini’s Electrical Audio studio, where he handled engineering and mixing. Fugazi and Albini ultimately decided the sessions did not fully land, and the band later re-recorded the material with producer Ted Niceley for the album that was eventually released.
Now those original takes are being issued as a separate charity release. Proceeds from the album will support Letters Charity, the organization Albini founded with his wife, Heather Whinna, to help Chicago families living in poverty.
The release also serves as a tribute to Albini, whose work shaped generations of independent music. Among the tracks now available are Facet Squared and Smallpox Champion, offering a raw earlier version of a pivotal moment in Fugazi’s catalog.