August 5, 2022
Today, JUNO-nominated Toronto punk outfit The Flatliners release their ambitious sixth studio album New Ruin through Dine Alone Records in Canada.
New album, New Ruin is a shot of pure adrenaline from a band striking out at outdated institutions and ideologies via impeccably crafted pointed lyrics. Produced by lead vocalist Chris Cresswell along with the rest of the band, New Ruin sees The Flatliners attacking each new track with a ferocity and intensity that will surprise even long-time fans. From the monstrously discordant hits that open the album through the de facto thesis statement of Heirloom, it’s clear that The Flatliners are angry in a way we’ve never heard before. Recorded at Toronto’s Noble Street Studios and Genesis Sound with long-time friend and engineer Matt Snell, the album sounds both open and immediate, the cumulative effect of two decades performing together.
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“New Ruin is equal parts love letter and hate mail, empowerment and embarrassment, hopefulness and despondency. For the first time in a long time, we’re looking out instead of in, and it’s not all pretty,” shares Cresswell. “There’s a new weight to the world now we as people can’t deny, and the only way to make this record was to try to achieve that same feeling in these songs. They’re angry because we’re angry. They’re loud because these are the things we need to be loud about. No better way than through. No brighter way to burn.”
Heralded as ‘the best material of the band’s career’, New Ruin features 11 impressive new tracks including the infectious thought-provoking lead single Performative Hours, the melodic punk tune Souvenir which was recently featured on Alan Cross’ ‘songs you must hear’ list, the powerfully insightful Rat King, as well as, latest focus track It’ll Hurt.
Cresswell had this to say about, It’ll Hurt, “It can be hard to find your place in a world that’s always moving. The growing pains synonymous with carving out a space to call your own usually end up as accomplishments in the rear rear view, but when they’re still in front of you, when they envelop you, it’s a fight you can’t help but feel. For everybody digging in to find what’s truly theirs, to make something their own, the mountain can be brutal. But it’s worth the climb home.”
In support of their new record and the band’s 20th anniversary, The Flatliners will be spending the next few months touring across Europe, the U.S and Canada with Canadian dates in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Calgary in September. The band will return to the road later in the year for December dates in Quebec City, Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto. Dubbed The Holiday Mêlée weekend, the two hometown shows in Toronto will take place on Friday, December 16th at The Great Hall (recently moved from Longboat Hall) for a special full band acoustic performance and on Saturday, December 17th at the Danforth Music Hall.
