Albany hardcore quintet Drug Church have returned to announce PRUDE, their fifth studio album, due out on October 4th via Pure Noise Records. They’ve also shared the album’s first single, “Demolition Man.” Stream it below.
PRUDE follows Hygiene, the punk band’s acclaimed 2022 album. The record was produced by longtime Drug Church collaborator Jon Markson and features a deeper display of their aggressive sound. “I’m hesitant to say this album is more emotional, but I think there’s definitely some emotional songs on the record,” vocalist Patrick Kindlon said in a press release. “I wanted to avoid some of the topics I’ve been hammering for years, but I almost can’t, I’m limited to what interests me, or upsets me, or grabs my attention.”
He continued, saying, “There’s certainly classic Drug Church stuff–people derailing their lives, a strong pull to some type of individualism, frustration with mob mentality, this idea that maybe community isn’t what it’s sold as–but I would say that this album approaches it from sort of a sad storytelling way. This one feels more earnest to me.”
“Demolition Man,” the band’s first offering from PRUDE, is a scorching, sweeping reminder of what Drug Church do best. Kindlon leads furious verses before the syncopated guitars open up to a warm wall of sound — all the while, Kindlon takes a philosophical route, howling about how mankind is born to lose within our current system and it’s immensely difficult to find purpose.
“A song about envying dogs because they know what they’ve gotta do each day,” said Kindlon. “I’m sure dogs are often confused, but they always have the north star of instinct. People live without it.” The song also arrives with a music video starring Biff Wiff, known for his work in I Think You Should Leave Now. Watch the official video for “Demolition Man” below.
Drug Church have a handful of festival appearances coming up, including sets at Riot Fest and Louder Than Life. Get tickets to see Drug Church here.
PRUDE Album Artwork:
PRUDE Tracklist:
01. Mad Care
02. Myopic
03. Hey Listen
04. Demolition Man
05. Business Ethics
06. Slide 2 Me
07. Chow
08. The Bitters
09. Yankee Trails
10. Peer Review