California metallic skate punks Strung Out have announced their 10th album, Dead Rebellion, due April 5 via Fat Wreck Chords (pre-order). It was produced, mixed, and recorded by Shawn McGee. The announcement reads:
Crafted amidst the challenges of the global pandemic, Dead Rebellion signifies a pivotal juncture for the band as they celebrate 35 years of musical prowess. The album embraces a distinctive mid-tempo and heavy vibe, prioritizing melody over speed. The album’s thematic core delves into the complexities of societal issues, personal struggles, and the divisive impact of our technology-driven world. Vocalist, Jason Cruz shares:
“Dead Rebellion is a love letter to our fans, and the product of a 34-year negotiation with ourselves and the world. It was written, performed, and produced with a deep conviction that none of this is in vain, and if you love something enough, it will always take care of you in the end. For example, the song “Cages” explores the self-imposed limitations that hold us back, like blame and self-victimization. Only by eliminating these from the equation can true growth occur.”
“[…] The key to this record is technology and divisiveness—divisive language, divisive attitudes, divisive ideologies. I feel I was abandoned in a way, by a lot of things. What happened to bringing people together? I thought that that’s what we started doing this for. It’s still a huge part of who I am, and it seeps into the lyrics – trying to just find some common ground with people again and remind people that we’re all the same. At the end of the day, when the lights go out, we all want the same thing. And that’s where the title Dead Rebellion came from – like, we got so far and here we are right back again, just fragmented and at each other’s throats constantly.”
“Cages” is the first single, and it toes the line between the band’s melodic side and their heavy side, while delivering its topical message. Check it out below.
Strung Out will also be opening Less Than Jake‘s ‘Return to Rockview’ tour, which finds them playing 1998’s Hello Rockview in full, this March. The Raging Nathans are opening too, and the tour hits Brooklyn’s Warsaw on March 21. All dates are listed below.
Tracklist
Future Ghosts
Signal Fires
New Gods
White Owls
Life You Bleed
Cages
Empire Down
Resistance
Ceremony
Veronica’s Song
Dystopian Party Bus
Plastic Skeletons
Less Than Jake / Strung Out / The Raging Nathans — 2024 Tour Dates
15 Mar 2024 in St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live
16 Mar 2024 in Charleston, SC, US @ Music Farm
17 Mar 2024 in Asheville, NC, US @ The Orange Peel
18 Mar 2024 in Norfolk, VA, US @ The NorVa
20 Mar 2024 in Boston, MA, US @ Big Night Live
21 Mar 2024 in Brooklyn, NY, US @ Warsaw
22 Mar 2024 in Montreal, QC, Canada @ L’Olympia
23 Mar 2024 in Ottawa, ON, Canada @ Bronson Centre
24 Mar 2024 in Toronto, ON, Canada @ History
26 Mar 2024 in Grand Rapids, MI, US @ The Intersection
27 Mar 2024 in Bloomington, IL, US @ The Castle Theatre
28 Mar 2024 in Cincinnati, OH, US @ Bogart’s
29 Mar 2024 in Reading, PA, US @ Reverb
