TUNIC: WINNIPEG NOISE-ROCKERS STREAM TITLE TRACK FROM UPCOMING ARTOFFACT RECORDS ALBUM “QUITTER”From Winnipeg, Canada, Tunic is now streaming “Quitter,” the title track from its upcoming sophomore album, Quitter.
Engineered and mixed by Jace Lasek (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg and mastered by Carl Saff (Bambara, Human Impact), the album will see an October 15th release on Artoffact Records.
Stream the song, HERE and HERE!
Formed in 2012, Tunic can trace its musical roots to the caustic, angular stylings of Big Black and The Jesus Lizard and their colleagues from across the AmRep and Touch and Go rosters. As displayed on Quitter’s title track, pummeling drums, distorted bass, discordant guitar, and wild-eyed vocals combine and lurch forward like an Army tank of sound. Yet, Tunic is more transparent than its noise-rock heroes ever were. There is an earnestness that links the Winnipeg outfit to a line of more heartfelt ancestors — post-hardcore gods like Drive Like Jehu and Fugazi.
In the spirit of those latter bands, frontman David Schellenberg lays his soul bare as he screams his head off about the most personal of topics. On the song “Quitter,” the subject matter is the departure of Tunic bassist and co-founder Rory Ellis, who left the fold after the recording of the new album, and Schellenberg’s subsequent questioning of his own existence. “Your exodus was not mutual,” he sings. “This inflated pastime, it strangles me.”
“The whole record is about quitting,” Schellenberg explains. Songs on the album examine the concept of “quitting” in various manifestations — from Ellis’ exit, to Schellenberg’s newfound sobriety and total overhaul of his life. “I quit smoking, drinking, and a job I had grown to hate,” he says. “I quit being stubborn about my mental illness and finally started taking medication for it.” From the ashes comes greatness; Quitter is the story of tearing things down so as to rebuild.
Prior to 2020, Tunic prided itself on playing a minimum of 100 shows per year. This attitude led to shows across North America with the likes of Metz, New Primals and Winnipeg brethren KEN mode. With the world reopening, the band revitalized, and a monster of a new album in hand, Tunic is primed to return to its intense touring schedule. “This music is meant to be played live and experienced live. I love to tour and there is nothing else I’d rather do,” says Schellenberg. To start, Tunic plays a slot on No Coast 2021 in Denton, TX on October 2nd, alongside Helmet, Kowloon Walled City, Yautja, and more.
Tracklist:
1) Apprehension
2) Quitter
3) Reward of Nothing
4) Stuck
5) Pattern Fixation
6) Fake Interest
7) You’re a Bug
8) Ex-Epic
9) Common Denominator
10) Smile
Lineup:
David Schellenberg – guitar, vocals
Dan Unger – drums
Rory Ellis – bass on the album
“An ugly and unhinged blast of catharsis that can comfortably live beside the tuneful noise of Metz, the spazzy-goth freakouts of Daughters and the riffy melodicism of Pile.”
—Fred Pessaro (Noisey, Revolver, Hard Noise)
“Chaotic catharsis… Noisy and raucous art punk.”
—Exclaim!
“A sledgehammer of noise rock.”
—CVLT Nation
Photo of Tunic, by Adam Kelly
TUNIC ONLINE:
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