Additionally, Devine has raised that he will be somewhat taking a break from touring his own material due to this. You can read his full statement below.

https://www.facebook.com/KevinDevineMusic/photos/a.183067017339.127465.9365212339/10155803284202340/?type=3&theater

Kevin Devine’s latest album is his ninth ‘Instigator’, which was released last year via Procrastinate! Music Traitors, Big Scary Monsters and Triple Crown Records, whilst Brand New released their long awaited fifth album ‘Science Fiction’ last month on Procrastinate! Music Traitors. The latter band will also be playing the following UK/Ireland shows.

NOVEMBER
16 DUBLIN, IRE Olympia Theatre
18 LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
19 GLASGOW O2 Academy

photo: Brandon Sloter

Brand New’s unpredictability rarely ends in disappointment. While there may be debates about which of their releases is the greatest until the sun explodes and swallows us all, their quality is their unstoppable consistency. (It’s ‘The Devil and God…’ by the way.) Unafraid to draw on varying inspirations and wholly reliant on their ability to put a tune together rather than any fancy showmanship, they tend to hide behind the scenes and let their music make the statements.

There’s certainly a statement to be found here but it’s not obvious, layered in imagery and veiled in hidden meaning. The record speaks honestly regarding acceptance but it contrasts with a longing for a different status quo. ‘Lit Me Up’, tired and defeated in message not music, opens with a spoken word declaration: “I don’t mind having all of this going on inside of me […] I think I’m going to be relieved when it’s over.” Both a reference to an internal struggle and perhaps the life of Brand New, it’s a double dose of poignancy straight to the heart.

‘Can’t Get It Out’ references the suffocation of depression using powerful natural imagery but ‘Waste’ lays things out more literally, imploring “take your head apart / free your own heart”. There is a juxtaposition throughout the album between hopelessness and hope and in the same song we hear clearly the message to take away, “don’t lose hope”. (Jesse Lacey’s whispered “this is the last one” is also a sad reminder that this band might be coming to an end.) Long, drawn out notes groan beneath the weight both of the content and what this album represents. It’s a sigh, it’s exhaustion – it’s time to put this all to bed.

‘Could Never Be Heaven’s simple refrain disguises a far more complicated sentiment of leaving behind those you love, and ‘Same Logic/Teeth’ delves even deeper. A memorable moment of the album, as the contrast in mood matches the changes between sections of quiet and loud, it’s a frustrated imploration for those who need help to try and help themselves.

‘137’ keeps on going. Darker and deeper, growling heavy and slow, it’s a grey cloud lifted only by the guitar solo with a force that can almost be felt, willing you out of the dreariness of both song and mood. Another contrast comes into play with ‘Out of Mana’ as its imagery finds in footing in a more practical world but the track overall feels like a stream of consciousness alongside the acoustic interlude – nightmarish and warped in lyric style.

The eerie ‘Desert’, sung from the point of a man who would rather kill his child than him live his life in the way he would like to, cuts close to the bone in the same way as 2006’s ‘Limousine’, telling another’s story. “Don’t come running to me / When they’re coming for you,” the chorus repeats. It’s a message being turned inwards at the storyteller, their own words reflected back at them as Lacey sings, and serves as a potent warning.

While the overarching message may seem negative, as the subject matter covered is so tough, don’t lose sight of the hope that lingers underneath. It may simply be a small mention of love or family, but there is always something to cling on to in what feels like the darkest moments. For Lacey, it’s a speckle of hope in depression. For us, it’s a moment to cling on to in a song and one that’s summed up succinctly during ‘Could Never Be Heaven’. “You are not alone / We are not separate.” We’re urged to appreciate things, reflecting the message of ‘Same Logic/Teeth’, in ‘451’. “A million suns won’t fill you up / If you can’t see the wine flowing over your cup” is sung over a driving beat with a similar power to Marilyn Manson’s ‘Beautiful People’ and it feels as though we’ve dragged ourselves out of the despair once again, ready to charge forward.

At this point it feels like Brand New could release anything and we’d fall in love with it. After all the waiting and wondering, it’s hard not to. But it’s not all just based on excitement. Able to capture a feeling, one usually hushed and hidden from public view, they’ve provided a soundtrack for a – broken – generation. If this is the end for Brand New and it’s time to start the grieving process – well, what a life it’s been.

KATHRYN BLACK

Based on the following facts according to Upset Magazine, the band had mysteriously sent out 500 CDs to fans who managed to pre-order the new record via Procrastinate! Music Traitors. The CD contained an MP3 of the entire new record, which apparently entitled ‘Science Fiction’. You can check out below, probably for a limited time only.

The band will also be playing the following UK/Ireland shows this November.

NOVEMBER
16 DUBLIN, IRE Olympia Theatre
18 LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
19 GLASGOW O2 Academy

It will be released on limited vinyl this October via Procrastinate! Music Traitors. It is the band’s first new album since ‘Daisy’ in 2009 and will be their first new material since last year’s single ‘I Am a Nightmare’.

The band will also be playing the following UK/Ireland shows this November.

NOVEMBER
16 DUBLIN, IRE Olympia Theatre
18 LONDON Brixton O2 Academy
19 GLASGOW O2 Academy

From the opener ‘Wolves of Winter’ through the animalistic ‘Howl’ to the eclectic ‘Animal Style’, the new material from this year’s ‘Ellipsis’ album proved the most consistently popular of the night. Joining together dancing Dads, band tshirt-clad kids with school in the morning, and plenty of emos (still clinging on to that trend, aren’t we?), every chart-friendly chorus was met with a monster singalong; a choir of alternative music fans screaming at the top of their lungs.

But has this widespread success come at a price to Biffy’s most loyal of fans? Since 2004’s ‘Infinity Land’, the pickiest of pedants have complained that “the old stuff is the best” – even more ridiculous when most of the moaners had barely reached their teenage years when it was originally released. There is, however, some sense in their complaining. Tracks like ‘9/15ths’ and ‘Wave Upon Wave Upon Wave’ were depressingly under-appreciated, while the comparatively boring ballads that ended the main set (‘Many of Horror’ and ‘Machines’) were met with tears and applause.

In a similar vein, support band Brand New went almost unnoticed by the audience. A band whose response from the public has always been split equally between a cult-like admiration and not giving a single solitary shit, mammoth songs like ‘You Won’t Know’ and ‘Degausser’ were entirely underappreciated. Jesse Lacey’s vocals sounded incredible, however, and a small appreciation was shown for the recognisable introduction to ‘Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades’. This wasn’t their audience but there’s a reason Brand New have remained, and always will remain, an emo favourite.

Appearing effortlessly cool throughout, Biffy’s showmanship is second to none in UK rock. Simon Neil and bassist James Johnston spread themselves across the stage, keeping a personal connection with the audience despite any distance the cavernous venue may have put between them. Only a few bands make it to arena level and these guys – alongside drummer Ben Johnston – are a well-oiled, performance machine. Conducting the crowd through good time songs ‘Bubbles’ and ‘The Captain’, it’s easy work for a band who have spent this long playing shows and releasing records, carving themselves a signature style (tops off, skinny jeans, and a killer light show) along the way.

Not sounding as jaw-dropping as the recorded version sounds blasted through your headphones on a particularly emotional, pining-for-your-ex sort of day, ‘Biblical’ didn’t seem to win the affections of as many people as you might think based on its romantic, thoughtful lyrics. The closing ‘Stingin’ Belle’, however, seemed like a fitting close for an almost hometown show in Scotland; if only they’d used the venue as a good excuse to bring on some bagpipes, matching the album version of the track. A rousing conclusion to an impressive two-hour set, a feeling of unity swept over the Glasgow night. “Stand where the others stand, we’re alive tonight,” Simon Neil sang during ‘Different People’ and never did those lyrics seem so apt.

KATHRYN BLACK

The band have said there will be no new album this year, despite it being teased over the last few months. However, to celebrate the tenth anniversary of their beloved album, ‘The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me’, they will perform the album in full on their upcoming US tour with Modern Baseball and The Front Bottoms.

The statement can be read in full below:

“To whom it may concern,

First, an apology. At some point previous, we, Brand New, admitted our plans to release a record this year. These plans were authentic, but we are changing them. While there exists a collection of songs that, right now, some would call fit to be an album, to us it is not complete enough, refined enough, or edited thoroughly enough to be something we would call finished or essential. Brand New will not release a record in 2016.

Secondly, we have been reminded that this fall will mark the tenth year since the release of our third album, The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. It is an important record and piece of work to us, and one that ten years later we still use as a measuring post with which we compare the music we make now. So we have decided that on the upcoming fall tour, which begins on October 13, we will be performing the record, each night, in its entirety. It will be included within a larger set of songs, and will not exclude us playing music from other albums, or new music, nightly.

What’s left should be a strange demise, but hopefully one as loud and as fun as the rest of our time together has been. All are invited. Please send flowers.

Sincerely, Brand New”

Brand new will be in the UK later this year when they support Biffy Clyro on their arena tour. Whether or not this anniversary set will continue on that tour remains to be seen.

November
29 GLASGOW SSE Hydro
30 ABERDEEN, GE Oil & Gas Arena

December
02 NEWCASTLE, Metro Radio Arena
03 MANCHESTER, Arena
04 LEEDS First Direct Arena
06 CARDIFF, Motorpoint Arena
07 BIRMINGHAM Barclaycard Arena
08 LONDON O2 Arena

The message is printed inside their inlay on the imported 10″ versions of ‘3 Demos, Reworked’. Banquet Records kindly unveiled the message on their Twitter, asking just what does it “Mene”. Clever.

the Brand New records just arrived. what does it Mene? https://t.co/iuyxn1aC60 pic.twitter.com/Es9Ibu1R0G

— Banquet Records (@banquetrecords) August 1, 2016

The band had originally suggested that they would be calling it a day in 2018, which seemed like an odd thing to do at the time. Now it all just seems even more peculiar.

It’s starting to feel like the band are keeping their career alive – a career which doesn’t actually need anything more than their music to survive – by drip-feeding vague shock announcements that may or may not be true.

It’s probably about time Brand New accept that crying wolf is a losing game.

See for yourself:

It follows the band’s “RIP 2018” postcards from last year. Fans have, of course, also been quick to pick up on the fact that it makes them 18 forever. If you are unsure of the reference, stream ‘Soco Amearetto Lime’ below.

One of the t-shirts depicting the dates is called ‘Resurrection’ though. So let’s be fair, we have no clue what’s going on.

The single is being released on 12″ and you can get one here.

If you’re in the US you can catch them on tour:

Brand New Headlining Tour Dates (Tickets):
06/01 – Vancouver, Canada @ Vogue Theatre
06/02 – Vancouver, Canada @ Vogue Theatre
06/04 – Edmonton, Canada @ Union Hall
06/05 – Calgary, Canada @ Macewan Hall
06/06 – Saskatoon, Canada @ O’Brians Events Centre
06/09 – Toronto, Canada @ Sound Academy
06/10 – Toronto, Canada @ Sound Academy
06/11 – Montreal, Canada @ L’Olympia
06/12 – Montreal, Canada @ L’Olympia

Brand New and Modest Mouse 2016 Tour Dates (Tickets):
06/28 – Magna, UT @ Saltair *
06/29 – Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater ^
07/01 – Bonner Springs, KS @ Cricket Wireless Amphitheater ^
07/02 – Chicago, IL @ FirstMerit Bank Pavilion *
07/03 – Clarkson, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre ^
07/05 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE ^
07/06 – Cary, NC @ Koka Booth Amphitheater *
07/08 – Miami, FL @ Bayfront Park Amphitheater ^
07/09 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheater *
07/10 – Atlanta, GA @ Chastain Park Amphitheater ^
07/12 – Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion *
07/14 – New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden ^
07/15 – Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center *
07/16 – Philadelphia, PA @ Mann Center for Performing Arts ^
07/19 – Nashville, TN @ Ascend Amphitheater ^
07/21 – Tulsa, OK @ BOK Center *
07/22 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Verizon Field ^
07/23 – Del Valle, TX @ Austin360 Amphitheater *
07/25 – Phoenix, AZ @ Comerica Theatre *
07/26 – Chula Vista, CA @ Sleep Train Amphitheater ^
07/27 – Inglewood, CA @ The Forum *
07/28 – Berkeley, CA @ Greek Theatre ^
07/30 – Seattle, WA @ KeyArena *
07/31 – Portland, OR @ Moda Center *
* = Modest Mouse closing the show
^ = Brand New closing the show