Alkaline Trio
Feb 15, 2010
It's been 11 years since Alkaline Trio released their first full-length album, Goddamnit. In that time, they've toured the world, sold over a million records, and expanded their sound radically beyond their original straight-ahead punk style, incorporating production slick enough to earn them mass exposure on outlets like MTV's The Hills. Now with This Addiction, release date February 23rd, their seventh album and first for Epitaph and Heart & Skull, the band's own label, the Chicago rockers are heading back to their roots.
Commenting on the formation of the new imprint, named for the band's longstanding logo, Alkaline Trio singer/guitarist Matt Skiba said, "We made the decision to form Heart & Skull to put out our own records after having been through every kind of label deal in the industry, big indies, small indies, majors. We knew it was time to adapt to the shifting tides of the music industry and we could not be more thrilled about doing that in conjunction with the team at Epitaph. Taking control of our own label situation was something we always wanted to do but never thought was possible, but now thanks to Brett Gurewitz and the fine folks at Epitaph, it is. All three of us in Alkaline Trio have always had the utmost respect for the music and the work ethic of the Epitaph, Anti- and Hellcat family and now we're honored to be working together under one big happy roof. Heart & Skull/Epitaph is truly a dream come true for us."
Alkaline Trio bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano added, "For our band at this time it really makes sense to release our own records, but we wanted to make sure we could partner up with good people who we would want to share in something very special to us. When Brett called and said he wanted to be involved, that was it. Epitaph is a label I've admired and supported for more than half of my life! I couldn't be more excited for how this is turning out!"
In a mid-November interview with Spinner.com, Skiba said that the album would be a straight rock record that allows their deep-rooted punk roots to shine through.
"This record is a rock record but our punk rock upbringing definitely shines through, more so than our last few records," Skiba told Spinner.com. "The vibe is similar to our humble beginnings. It's a step forward but I also think it has glimmers of our past in it. "We went with a less-is-more approach on this record. A lot of it is just one guitar rather than overdubs or three or four guitars," he says. "We wanted a record that we could easily play live. For the most part, it's pretty bare bones while still sounding full and big."
Of course, just because it's about making noise and kicking butt doesn't mean the cerebral band is going to dumb it down.
"I think that we wanted to make a punk rock record that we've been describing as 'thinking-man's punk,'" Skiba said. "We wanted to do something that's fun but also interesting and lyrically, something that will be fun for people to read along to and hopefully understand."
The single, "This Addiction" impacts Alternative on March 2nd.
Upcoming 2010 Tour Dates:
- 02/16 - Pomona, CA @ Glass House
- 02/17 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues (Sunset)
- 02/18 - San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom
- 02/19 - Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
- 02/20 - Seattle, WA @ Neumo's
- 02/23 - Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory
- 02/24 - Salt Lake City, UT @ In the Venue
- 02/25 - Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre
- 02/26 - Lawrence, KS @ Granada Theater
- 02/27 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
- 02/28 - Chicago, IL @ Metro
- 03/02 - Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak
- 03/03 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
- 03/04 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues
- 03/05 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Club Zoo
- 03/06 - Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
- 03/08 - Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Light
- 03/09 - Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
- 03/11 - Philadelphia, PA @ Tracadero
- 03/12 - New York, NY @ Nokia Theatre
- 03/13 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland
- 03/14 - Providence, RI @ Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
- 03/16 - Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
- 03/17 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend
- 03/18 - Charleston, SC @ Music Farm
- 03/19 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
- 03/20 - Jacksonville Beach, FL @ Freebird Live
- 03/22 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues
- 03/23 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
- 03/25 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
- 03/26 - Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
- 03/27 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium Ballroom
- 03/28 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
- 03/30 - Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
- 04/01 - San Diego, CA @ House of Blues
- 04/02 - Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues