Scranton punk band The Menzingers announce new album, single, and tour with Tigers Jaw
From a press release:
It was announced today that Scranton/Philadelphia punk band The Menzingers will release their sixth studio album, “Hello Exile,” on Friday, Oct. 4 via Epitaph Records.
The record arrives as the follow-up to the band’s 2017 critically acclaimed release “After the Party,” which debuted at No. 19 on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart and No. 67 on the Top 200.
In creating this album, the band once again joined forces with producer Will Yip (Tigers Jaw, Mannequin Pussy, Quicksand), spending six weeks recording at Yip’s Conshohocken-based Studio 4.
“That’s the longest amount of time we’ve ever worked with Will,” noted vocalist/guitarist Greg Barnett. “We wanted to make sure these stories didn’t get lost in the music, so we kept it to a lot of room sounds with the guitar and bass and drums.” Pre-orders for Hello Exile are available here.
Today, the band also released the video for the first single off the forthcoming record, “Anna.” On this track, The Menzingers turn their incisive songwriting to matters of love and romance, exploring the glories and failures of human connection. A wistful piece of jangle pop, “Anna” paints a portrait of lovesick longing, complete with dreamy recollections of wine-drunk kitchen dancing.
On “Hello Exile,” The Menzingers take their lyrical narrative to a whole new level and share their reflections on moments from the past and present: high-school hellraising, troubled relationships, aging, alcohol, and political ennui. With the band achieving that soul-baring intimacy all throughout the album, “Hello Exile” emerges as The Menzingers’ most emotionally daring work to date.
Featuring singers/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May, bassist Eric Keen, and drummer Joe Godino, The Menzingers formed as teenagers in their hometown of Scranton in 2006, then later relocated to Philadelphia. The band made their Epitaph debut with 2012’s “On the Impossible Past,” which was voted Album of the Year by Absolute Punk and Punk News. Arriving in 2014, their fourth album “Rented World” was praised as “packed with clever songwriting” by the New York Times and “a colossal fist-pumper” by Stereogum. In February of 2017, The Menzingers released their fifth album, “After the Party,” which landed on best-of-the-year lists from outlets like Clash and Noisey, with Stereogum praising its “almost unfairly well-written punk songs.”
The Menzingers will hit the road starting later this week with The Sidekicks and Queen of Jeans on a national headlining tour that stops at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster this Friday, July 19. Additionally, the band has just announced a fall headlining run beginning Oct. 25 in Columbus, Ohio and wrapping Dec. 7 in Boston, Massachusetts before they head overseas for a European tour in early 2020. Fellow Scranton band Tigers Jaw and Culture Abuse will provide support for these shows, which include a concert at Franklin Music Hall in Philadelphia on Friday, Nov. 29. Tickets go on sale on July 19.
“We grew up with The Menzingers in Scranton but have never done a proper tour together. We are so excited to tour the U.S. with them and Culture Abuse later this year!” Tigers Jaw said.
“Hello Exile” tracklist:
1. America (You’re Freaking Me Out)
2. Anna
3. High School Friend
4. Last to Know
5. Strangers Forever
6. Hello Exile
7. Portland
8. Strain Your Memory
9. I Can’t Stop Drinking
10. Strawberry Mansion
11. London Drugs
12. Farewell Youth
See NEPA Scene’s photos of The Menzingers performing at the 2019 Vans Warped Tour in Atlantic City, New Jersey here and see our review and photos of the band’s show in Bethlehem last August here.
