The Menzingers have unveiled a new track from their forthcoming record Hello Exile due October 4 via Epitaph. The track, “America (You’re Freaking Me Out)” starts the record off with restless urgency; it’s pounding rhythms and furious guitar riffs providing a much-needed release for all those feeling frenzied by the current political climate.
“We’re living in a pretty insane time, where all you can think about every single day is ‘What the hell is going on with this country?’” says vocalist Greg Barnett. “But as I was writing that song I realized that it’s kind of always freaked me out, especially coming-of-age during the Iraq War. I love so much about America, but I think you can’t deny that there are some people in power who are absolutely evil.”
Directed by Rob McConnaughy (whose previous work includes “I Don’t Wanna Be An Asshole Anymore” off the band’s 2014 release Rented World), the video features an alien life-form traveling across the United States, freaked out by the current political climate. Watch the video now below.
Since forming as teenagers in 2006, The Menzingers have shown their strength as rough-and-tumble storytellers, turning out songs equally rooted in frenetic energy and lifelike detail. The forthcoming sixth studio album, Hello Exile sees The Menzingers take their lyrical narrative to a whole new level and share their reflections on moments from the past and present: high-school hellraising, troubled relationships, aging and alcohol and political ennui. With the band achieving that soul-baring intimacy all throughout the album, Hello Exile emerges as The Menzingers’ most emotionally daring work to date.
The Menzingers is singer/guitarists Greg Barnett and Tom May, bassist Eric Keen, and drummer Joe Godino.
Hello Exile Track Listing
1. America (You’re Freaking Me Out)
2. Anna
3. High School Friend
4. Last to Know
5. Strangers Forever
6. Hello Exile
7. Portland
8. Strain Your Memory
9. I Can’t Stop Drinking
10. Strawberry Mansion
11. London Drugs
12. Farewell Youth
The band will hit the road this fall with support from Tigers Jaw and Culture Abuse. Tickets are on sale now. For more information visit, https://themenzingers.com/tour.
TOUR DATES
10/25 Columbus, OH Athaneum^
10/27 Detroit, MI Magic Stick^
10/29 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater^
10/30 Madison, WI Majestic Theater^
10/31 St. Louis, MO Delmar Hall^
11/1 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater^
11/2 Omaha, NE Slowdown^
11/3 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre^
11/5 Seattle, WA El Corazon^
11/6 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theatre^
11/8 San Francisco, CA Slim’s^
11/9 San Francisco, CA Slim’s^
11/10 Los Angeles, CA The Regent^
11/12 Pomona, CA The Glasshouse^
11/13 Phoenix, AZ Club Red^
11/15 Dallas, TX Trees^
11/16 San Antonio, TX Paper Tiger^
11/17 Austin, TX Mohawk^
11/19 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade^
11/20 Charlotte, NC The Underground^
11/22 Tampa, FL The Orpheum%
11/23 Orlando, FL The Beacham%
11/24 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room%
11/26 Nashville, TN Basement East^
11/29 Philadelphia, PA Franklin Music Hall^
11/30 Pittsburgh, PA Roxian Theater^
12/1 Toronto, ON Phoenix^
12/3 Richmond, VA Broadberry^
12/4 Washington, DC The Black Cat^
12/5 New York, NY Warsaw^
12/6 New York, NY Warsaw^
12/7 Boston, MA House of Blues^
^ w/ Tigers Jaw & Culture Abuse
% w/ Culture Abuse (no Tigers Jaw)