When The Strokes’ hiatus began taking longer than expected, Nikolai reached into an old shoebox of poems and rants written years ago. With his free time, he began adapting them to music. Enlisting the help of South, a UK band introduced to him by a friend, Nickel Eye recorded some demos at South Studios in Hackney, London. With some guest appearances by Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Regina Spektor, The Time of the Assassins was completed a few months later in New York City. The album is written and produced by Nickel Eye. It is musically inspired by some of his favourite artists, such as Neil Young, Frank Black, Leonard Cohen and The Kinks and will be released January 27th, 2009 on Rykodisc. The artwork is reminiscent of Lynd Ward’s Gods’ Man, a collection of woodcuts considered to be one of the first graphic novels. The lyrics and theme for The Time of the Assassins found their impetus during a road trip across the United States of America when Nikolai was nineteen.

The Strokes have collectively agreed to take a break until February 2009. Until then: Enjoy!