If you're wondering how radio-friendly the new Shellac album will be, the first track is called World Series of Dick-Sucking and the closing track is called I Don't Fear Hell
Shellac will release their long-awaited sixth studio album To All Trains on May 17 on Touch and Go.
The follow-up to 2014's Dude Incredible, the trio's new album features ten tracks, many of which have been performed live in the 10 years since their songs last graced vinyl. They've also announced a short UK tour, which kicks off at the Academy 2 in Manchester on June 2. Full dates below.
Keeping information minimalist as ever, the only additional details announced for the latest work from vocalist/guitarist Steve Albini, vocalist/bassist Bob Weston andc drummer Todd Trainer is as follows: “Recording & Mixing took place at Electrical Audio in Chicago over a bunch of long weekends in November, 2017; October, 2019; September, 2021; and March, 2022. The record was mastered by Bob [Weston] & Steve [Albini] at Chicago Mastering Service.”
The track-listing for the record is:
1. WSOD
2. Girl From Outside
3. Chick New Wave
4. Tattoos
5. Wednesday
6. Scrappers
7. Days Are Dogs
8. How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man (cock & bull)
9. Scabby The Rat
10. I Don’t Fear Hell
That opening title, a play on World Series of Poker, stands for World Series of Dick-Sucking, incidentally. Steve Albini is an accomplished poker player, but has never been at all concerned about... courting favour. And How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man (cock & bull) is presumably named in tribute to The Fall's How I Wrote How I Wrote Elastic Man, but with added cock and bull.
Asked by this writer in 2019 if a new album from his band might be forthcoming, Albini replied, “We’ve been recording, off and on. We work at a slow pace, but we’re still plugging away and there will be new music eventually.”
And now there is.
The album can be pre-ordered in the UK/EU here, and in the US here.
Below is a live version of the album's closing track, I Don't Fear Hell.
Shellac: UK Tour 2024
Jun 02: Manchester Academy 2
Jun 03: Leeds Brudenell Social Club
Jun 04: Bristol The Fleece
Jun 05: London Electric Ballroom
Jun 06: Brighton Concorde 2
Tickets are available from Friday March 22 at 9am.
