Gnawing are to release their new LP Modern Survival Techniques on May 12 through Refresh Records. They are also to support Fucked Up on their upcoming US Tour. The band is the dream project of John Russell, which he began as a one-man project. John has played in bands such as Alright, Planet Creep, Earthmover, etc. before. With this project, he started off recording and self-releasing a 5-song cassette through his own label Hilltop Recordings. The artist decided to relocate after the release and shifted to Richmond.
The band share their thoughts:
“We couldn’t be more excited about this record, Modern Survival Techniques. We holed up in a castle in the middle of nowhere last November, and with Tim Falen producing we made what we think is our best grouping of songs yet. There’s some stretches into new territory for us and still plenty of classic Gnawing identifiers- fuzz pedals and loud drums. What we were most proud of, however, was a record that sounds like four friends hanging out and having fun playing music.
Late night hot tub dips, cooking family meals in the massive kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee at all hours, endless laughs and pranks, kitchenware percussion, all of these made imprints on the record and created an environment so clearly made with love and friendship. We hope that the listener feels like they are there with us, laughing and trying to capture weird feedback or rain on a tin roof.”
According to the press release:
Growing up on 1990’s alternative rock like Dinosaur Jr., Pavement, The Lemonheads, Sugar, Gin Blossoms, and more, John wanted to scratch a songwriting itch that would bring him back to his roots. After digging into writing a bit more, he decided to expand Gnawing into a full band project, revisiting the original EP and growing their sound as a trio. Adding Richmond natives Christian Monroe (New Lions) and Chris Matz (Antiphons), Gnawing found a new energy with new ideas.
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Photo courtesy of Gnawing
