Coming fresh of the back of last year’s new EP ‘ Volcano Park’, Chicago punks Meat Wave return with both a new album – ‘Malign Hex’ and a new US label – Swami Records (owned by John Reis – Rockets From The Crypt, Drive Like Jehu, Hot Snakes).

Eco mix vinyl.

Having released standalone single ‘Honest Single’ in March, the band have delivered another ripsnorter – Ridiculous Car – ahead of more announcements to come in August! Of the new track, the band said this:

“This was one of the first songs we wrote for our new record. There is a special place in hell for bros who zoom down the expressway weaving through traffic like they’re playing Grand Theft Auto. The reckless endangerment that we are all subjected to because some douchebag installed a spoiler makes my blood boil. Plus your car looks stupid. The arc of this new collection of songs moves from looking outward to inward. When it comes to one’s vices and vanity and ignorance, maybe I am not too dissimilar from these fucking bros. In other destructive ways. I digress. Ultimately, it’s a ripper.”

Formed in 2011 by the trio of Chris Sutter (vocals/guitar), Joe Gac (bass) and Ryan Wizniak (drums), the three punk scene stalwarts came together and, just a year later, released its self-titled full-length debut. That first collection of songs was a master class in abrasive post-punk made to feel poppy, simultaneously referencing Hot Snakes, the disgruntled lyricism of Shellac and a little bit of The Jesus Lizard’s fire-spitting sneer just for good measure.

They released the Brother EP in early 2015 and followed it up with their second album, Delusion Moon, in August of the same year. Their last album the critically acclaimed, The Incessant, recorded with legendary Chicago engineer Steve Albini, was released Feb 2017. they followed this in 2021 with a new EP – Volcano Park.

“Like a punked up, 200mph equivalent of Built to Spill or the War on Drugs’ epic, big sky hooks. One of 2015’s most addictive, pulse-racing noisy joys.” – The Guardian, 5/5

“Raw, snarling and unabashedly in-your-face” – DIY

“Packed with scrappy, squalid and infinitely addictive garage-punk.” – NME

“Meat Wave takes the fast and furious lo-fi sounds of bands like The Marked Men and turns up the intensity just enough to give the classic sound a whole new meaning.” – Noisey