Atlanta flower punk pioneers Black Lips have announced that their first album in three years, Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art?, is set for release May 5th in the UK through Vice Records. Produced by Sean Lennon at his studio compound in upstate New York throughout 2016, the album is the group’s most musically evolved to date, while still staying true to their original blistering take on fuzzy, dirty rock n’ roll.

During the recording the band isolated themselves from the outside world, infusing the album with a focused liveliness similar to the spirit that brought them together in the first place. On Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art?, founding members Cole Alexander and Jared Swilley teamed with former guitarist Jack Hines (who played in the group from 2002-2004) and recent additions Oakley Munson on drums and Zumi Rosow on saxophone. The album also features contributions by Saul Adamczewski of Fat White Family and guest vocals by Yoko Ono.

Black Lips were born of the DIY ethic, working their way from sweaty basement shows in Georgia to huge crowds at international music festivals (including a performance at Fun Fun Fun Fest that appears in Terrence Malick’s forthcoming film Song To Song) to tours in such far flung locales as India, Jordan, Cyprus, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraqi Kurdistan, the United Arab Emirates and many more. Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art? vindicates Black Lips for sticking it out through many years of shifting trends and buzz bands; providing a sonically captivating document that is as creatively unhinged as it is precisely executed, one of the rawest and most expansive albums in the band’s storied history.

Our review will appear on the site nearer the time of release.

Pre-Order The Album Here

Stream “Can’t Hold On” Here

Satan’s Graffiti Or God’s Art? Track Listing:

1. Overture: Sunday Mourning

2. Occidental Front

3. Can’t Hold On

4. The Last Cul de Sac

5. Interlude: Got Me All Alone

6. Crystal Night

7. Squatting in Heaven

8. Interlude: Bongo’s Baby

9. Rebel Intuition

10. Wayne

11. Interlude: E’lektric Spider Webz

12. We Know

13. In My Mind There's a Dream

14. Lucid Nightmare

15. Come Ride With Me

16. It Won't Be Long

17. Loser’s Lament

18. Finale: Sunday Mourning

Iconic US-rockers Cheap Trick have announced a special three date UK tour, with the band visiting London, Manchester and Bristol in June 2017. The Illinois quartet, who originally formed in 1973, will delight fans with their huge back catalogue of rock classics, including hits ‘Surrender’, ‘I Want You To Want Me’, ‘Dream Police’ and ‘The Flame’. The tour comes on the back of their most recent 2016 album, Bang, Zoom, Crazy… Hello, their 17th studio release and first for seven years.

Now an indisputable institution, Cheap Trick have amassed a huge worldwide following over four decades, achieved a string of awards and honours, featured on over 20 film soundtracks and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in April 2016. Cheap Trick are Robin Zander (vocals), Rick Nielsen (guitar), Tom Petersson (bass) and Daxx Nielsen (drums). The constant core of the band remains one of a kind – four guys, three chords and tunes that will last in perpetuity.

Each member contributes different elements to their songcraft – a riff, a chorus, a hook – which are then jammed into three-and-a-half perfect minutes of powerhouse pop rock. The new record is loud and gives a fresh feel to the setlist, whilst still harnessing the original ‘70s sound that has become their trademark.

UK Tour dates

Tue 27th Jun – London, O2 Kentish Town Forum

Wed 28th Jun – Manchester, Academy

Thu 29th Jun – Bristol, O2 Academy