Archers of Loaf is an American indie rock band originally formed in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, in 1991.

Eric Bachmann was a saxophone major at Appalachian State University before dropping out because he "didn't want to be a high school band director.

[6][7] The band signed with Alias records, and released their second single "Web in Front" in February 1993; it received moderate college radio airplay.

"[15] In 1996 the band released The Speed of Cattle, a collection of B-sides, singles, and John Peel session tracks.

[17][18] The album's creative break from the band's previous work may have stemmed from the different writing process used for White Trash Heroes.

According to Bachmann, "Things were laid down one at a time, though we did play a lot of it live, too, but pieced together more perfectly so we could hear when one sound was beginning to get in the way of something else.

"[16] During the tour supporting the album, Eric Johnson missed several dates due to his day job's work schedule.

In late 1998, after Price was diagnosed with, and subsequently had surgery for, carpal tunnel syndrome, the band decided to call it quits for good.

This project was the band's first official live album and was recorded during their final show at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro.

On January 15, 2011, Archers of Loaf reunited to play an unannounced set at The Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, North Carolina.

[21] The band were chosen by Les Savy Fav to perform at the ATP Nightmare Before Christmas festival that they co-curated in December 2011 in Minehead, England.

Bachmann has stated in interviews that his thought processes around the band have changed over time and that his relationships with the older material are also different: "Essentially, before, when I was a 20-year-old kid playing that stuff, I got some sense of satisfaction or power.

"[23] Asked about the band's future plans, Bachmann did not rule out a new album, but noted that it was not something that was on the immediate horizon following the reunion tour.

'"[23] A live concert documentary What Did You Expect?, capturing the band's August 2011 performances at The Cat's Cradle was released in 2012.

In 2015, the band released the double album Curse of the Loaf, which is the Brian Paulson produced concert audio from the documentary.

[24] In a 2018 interview with Eric Bachmann, he said all of the members of Archers of Loaf are on board with the idea of reforming and making a new record, saying "Oh yeah, everybody wants to do it — I just have to write the songs.

"[25] In November 2019, the band posted a video on their YouTube channel entitled "The Return Of The Loaf," teasing toward new music.

[27] On July 13, 2022, the Archers of Loaf announced their first LP in 24 years, Reason in Decline, which was released on October 21, 2022, via Merge Records.