STREAMING: The Menzingers remember sinful side of Scranton with ‘Bad Catholics,’ new album out Feb. 3
When Philadelphia punk band The Menzingers returned to Scranton over the summer for a hometown concert at The Vault Tap & Kitchen, they debuted a new song called “Bad Catholics” that resonated with fans who also grew up in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
At the time, vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett said that it was planned for a split EP and wouldn’t end up on their highly anticipated new album, but when the guys announced today via social media that “After the Party” would be released on Feb. 3 via Epitaph Records, they also put out the official studio version of “Bad Catholics” as another single, so maybe some prayers were answered.
As NEPA Scene wrote in a review of their June 18 show:
“[“Bad Catholics”] hit home, quite literally, by taking aim at the hypocrites that often gather for the ever-popular church picnics in Scranton. Sarcastic, poetic, and painfully accurate, this catchy barnburner fit right in with so many of their other songs that fit the same description. Its message and emotions are universal, but there’s something about seeing The Menzingers in the town that shaped them, making references that even their devoted following in their current backyard of Philadelphia wouldn’t understand, that makes the Electric City truly electric.”
Word on the street is that The Menzingers were back in Scranton this week to shoot a music video for “Bad Catholics,” so we’ll be keeping an eye out for that. In the meantime, fans can pre-order “After the Party” on Kings Road Merch, where it can be purchased on green or black vinyl or on CD bundled with t-shirts, hoodies, pins, pennants, and even their own coffee blend.
Stream The Menzingers’ other new studio track, “Lookers,” here and watch a live video of another new song, “Thick as Thieves,” here.
