Stabbing Westward Signs New Record Deal With COP International
May 21, 2020
Signs New Record Deal With COP International
Industrial Rockers Continue Reunion Momentum &
Return To The Studio With John Fryer,
Legendary Producer On The Band’s Seminal Early Releases
New Album Wasteland
To Be Released In 2020
The Band’s First LP In Nearly 20 Years
(photo credit: @Pharmadiver/Kim Hansen Photography)
Just months after releasing their first new material in 18
years, Stabbing Westward continues
their newfound momentum, today announcing a recording deal with COP International to release the band’s
upcoming fifth studio album Wasteland alongside at least one new single in 2020.
In January, the respected industrial rock band released the EP
Dead
And Gone with all new material, featuring
the bold title track as well as the darkly atmospheric and dreamy “Crawl,” the riveting dancefloor fury
of “Cold” plus remixes that
showcases a revitalized band performing at the same heights of intensity that
originally made them a success. Hear the new music here: https://stabbingwestward.bandcamp.com/album/dead-and-gone
(Dead And Gone EP)
The EP’s title coyly illustrates that Stabbing Westward is in fact neither dead nor gone, but rather
ready to pick up where they left off after a string of mid-‘90s hits that
dominated alternative radio and film soundtracks, including “Shame,” “Save Yourself,” “So Far Away” and “What Do I Have to Do?”, and resulted
in two Gold records.
To recapture that early chemistry, the band—featuring original
founding members Christopher Hall
(vocals/guitar) and Walter Flakus
(keyboards/programming) as well as longtime bandmate Carlton Bost (bass) and newest member Bobby Amaro (drums)—has again recruited their original producer,
the legendary John Fryer for the
upcoming Wasteland release. It
will be the first LP from the band since 2001. Fryer, whose production credits
include Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, 4AD, Cocteau Twins and Love and Rockets,
was behind the boards on Stabbing
Westward’s seminal early albums Ungod (1994) and Wither Blister Burn + Peel (1996).
"It's grand to be working with Stabbing Westward again,” says Fryer.
“The first two albums we made together were some of my finest work as a
producer."
Stabbing Westward frontman Christopher Hall adds, “I was so excited to have the opportunity to
go back to the very roots of Stabbing
Westward by working with John again. John really helped us develop our
sound on our first album and then helped us take a huge leap forward with our
second album. Even though this is our fifth full length, after such a long
break it feels like a new beginning and it's very cool to have John at the helm
once again.”
Fellow founding member Walter
Flakus adds, “I couldn’t be more excited to be working with John again. The
creativity we found on the first two records continues to drive where we want
to take Stabbing Westward in the
years to come. I’m so happy to rekindle that flame.”
Christian Petke, founder of COP International, also says, “We wanted
to put the dream team of Stabbing Westward and John Fryer back
together again.” Of the collaboration with the band, he adds, “First and
foremost we are fans. We truly appreciate the talent and skill of the musicians
that entrust us with their creations and we will do whatever it takes to
help them to create their best work on their own terms. What is of utmost
importance to us is to give our artists a boutique experience. We want to
create a partnership that is probably closer to a management deal than a
traditional record contract.”
More information will be released soon regarding Wasteland and a new single from the album, as well as other developments Stabbing Westward has in store for 2020 and beyond.
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| Photo by Kim Hansen Photography @pharmadiver |
About Stabbing Westward
Blending the scathing electronics of underground
industrial/rock with the emotive melodies of goth and a decidedly
radio-friendly sensibility, Stabbing Westward rose to great heights in the mid-‘90s
alternative boom. Formed in 1986 by Walter Flakus and Christopher Hall, the
band went from underground cult sensation to the heights of critical and
commercial success thanks to such songs as “Shame,” “Save Yourself,” “So Far
Away” and “What Do I Have to Do?”. To this day, these songs remain anthems of heartache,
dejection, rage, betrayal and depression.
With two Gold albums and numerous hit singles, Stabbing
Westward fell from grace with the 2001 self-titled album amid personal and
professional turmoil, disbanding the following year and leaving a void in
modern music that was somewhat filled by Hall’s later work in The Dreaming.
However, it was the release of that band’s Rise
Again in 2015 that the seeds were sown for a reunion. That album saw Flakus
once again making music with Hall, with Stabbing Westward guitarist Mark
Eliopulos joining The Dreaming onstage in Chicago for a set of past hits. In
2019, Hall and Flakus came together again to release the Dead And Gone EP, the first new Stabbing Westward material in 18
years. Written and produced by Flakus and Hall over the course of three years,
and recorded in multiple states and time zones, these new songs capture the
very essence of the Stabbing Westward sound. Adding longtime bandmate Carlton
Bost (Orgy, Deadsy, The Dreaming) and new drummer Bobby Amaro (Orgy) to the
official lineup, the band has also once again recruited the talent of producer
John Fryer—instrumental on early albums “Ungod” and “Wither Blister Burn +
Peel”—for a new album, to be released in 2020 through a new partnership with
COP International.
About COP International
The year 2019 was a crucial one for COP International as the
label teamed up with legendary producer John Fryer to form a production company
under the COP International umbrella. Fryer is producing and engineering the
majority of the forthcoming COP catalog and also working as A&R in helping
to select appropriate acts. “The level of craftsmanship, artistic talent
and meticulous attention to detail is what sets John’s work a world apart,”
says COP International founder Christian Petke. “After working with him on some
remixes for COP and Deathline International's new album Pax Americana, I knew I found the perfect partner for COP
International. When we first started talking, I brought up John’s relationship
with 4AD where he was the principal engineer and producer. This is exactly what
we have in mind for this collaboration. Scout, nurture and develop exceptional
talent. Driven by the desire to create a body of work that speaks for itself. “
Find Stabbing Westward
Online
Website: https://www.stabbingwestward.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stabbingwestwrd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stabbingwestward
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDSEWAjgbzSaEIdbeCOJWXw
Stabbing Westward Press
Contact
Selena Fragassi
FR PR
Stabbing Westward Live Photo by
Kim Hansen - Sound Rebel Magazine Photographer
Instagram: Pharmadiver
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