Punk stalwarts The Casualties announce ‘Detonate’, their first new album in eight years, out digitally on March 27th via Hellcat Records and on vinyl/CD on July 17th. On the new record, David Rodriguez (vocals), Marc ‘Meggers’ Eggers (drums), Jake Kolatis (guitar) and Doug Wellmon (bass), reignite their rage and cement their status as one of punk’s most enduring and uncompromising acts.
The Casualties also share the lyric video to the blistering title track, a scathing hardcore-punk blast of fury and frustration suggesting we should blow it all up and start anew. “It stems from being overloaded,” Meggers says. “You feel like your head is about to explode, which I think is what everybody is feeling these days. You’re pounced on day by day with terrible news and social media, and you just feel like you’re going to snap.”
Politics. Hatred. Endless war. These are just a few of the reasons why the title of The Casualties’ new album is ‘Detonate’. Instead of tearing each other apart, The Casualties punch back at authorities and systems that seek to divide, taking the chance to promote unity and camaraderie to all who feel alienated by the cruel state of the world.
Kolatis adds, “There are continuous wars and internal political battles. Everybody’s tearing each other apart. ‘Detonate’ is saying we’re tired of all this division. With this record, we have a chance to say something and promote some type of unity.”
‘Detonate’ is the second chapter in a new epoch for The Casualties. As their second album with Rodriguez at the mic, it solidifies the vocalist’s partnership with Meggers and Kolatis. “It’s like a new era for the band,” Meggers says. “It solidifies that Dave is here to stay.”
As the follow-up to 2018’s ‘Written in Blood’ and their first record for Hellcat Records — the Epitaph subsidiary curated by Tim Armstrong of Rancid — ‘Detonate’ sees this new version of The Casualties locking into place. “We were in the studio for ‘Written in Blood’ about eight months after I joined,” Rodriguez says. “With this new record, we really grew together. For me, it’s the proud moment where we clicked the three Legos together.”
Amplifying the punk ethos that The Casualties have embodied since 1990, ‘Detonate’ is a powerful installment in the band’s rich history as a voice for the voiceless. “I want people to feel empowered when they hear this record,” Rodriguez says. “I want them to feel like they have a voice. I want them to feel like they’re with like-minded people when they come to a Casualties show. They can be themselves and not watch the show but be part of the show—scream with us, jump off the stage. We want them to feel like they’re part of something.
‘Detonate’ tracklist:
01. Intro
02. Detonate
03. People Over Power
04. Empire Falls
05. Ashes Of War
06. Allies And Assasins
07. Brick By Brick
08. Few The True
09. Now And Tomorrow
10. Eye For An Eye
11. Pigs On Fire
12. Streets Of Hatred
13. Wake Up, Kill, Repeat
Upcoming tour dates:
March 29th – Scarborough Punk Festival – Scarborough, UK
April 1st – 29th Street Ballroom – Austin, TX
April 2nd – Lowbrow Palace – El Paso, TX
April 4th – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
April 5th – Valley Bar – Phoenix, AZ
April 7th – SOMA Sidestage – San Diego, CA
April 8th – Mystery Shop – Oxnard, CA
April 9th – The Independent – San Francisco, CA
April 10th – Transplants Brewery – Palmdale, CA
April 11th – Strummer’s – Fresno, CA
April 12th – Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA
April 14th – Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
April 16th – Barboza – Seattle, WA
April 17th – Upstairs Cabaret – Victoria, British Columbia
April 18th – The Pearl – Vancouver, British Columbia
April 19th – Jackknife – Kelowna, British Columbia
April 21st – Dickens – Calgary, Alberta
April 22nd – Pawn Shop – Edmonton, Alberta
April 24th – Black Cat Tavern – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
April 26th – Park Theatre – Winnipeg, Manitoba
April 29th – The Garrison – Toronto, Ontario
April 30th – 27 Club – Ottawa, Ontario
May 1st – Bar Le Ritz – Montreal, Quebec
May 2nd – Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
May 3rd – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
May 5th – Sonia – Boston, MA
May 7th – Meadows – Brooklyn, NY
May 8th – The First Unitarian Church – Philadelphia, PA
May 9th – Scandal’s Live – Virginia Beach, VA
May 10th – Black Cat – Washington, DC
May 12th – Minglewood Hall (1884 Lounge) – Memphis, TN
May 13th – Black Circle Brewing – Indianapolis, IN
May 14th – The Sanctuary – Hamtramck, MI
May 15th – Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
May 16th – The Argo – Milwaukee, WI
May 17th – 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN
May 19th – The Slowdown – Omaha, NE
May 20th – Moe’s – Denver, CO
May 21st – Aces High – Salt Lake City, UT
June 6th – Sbäm Fest – Wels, Austria
June 12th – Torgau Ain’t Like You Festival – Hagen, Germany
June 20th – Ehuneko Bat – Doneztebe, Spain
June 26th – Superbowl of Hardcore – Rennes, France
June 27th – Vainstream Rockfest – Münster, Germany
June 28th – Mighty Sounds Festival – Tábor, Czechia
July 10th – Krach Am Bach – Prölsdorf, Germany
July 18th – Festiwal Urwanych Filmów – Rowy, Poland
July 25th – Speedfest – Hohenems, Austria
July 27th – Rockstadt Extreme – Brasov, Romania
July 30th – DLB Festival – Argenta, Italy
July 31st – Sylak Open Air – Sant-maurice-de-gaurdans, France
August 6th – Brutal Assault – Jaroměř, Czech Republic
August 7th – Praia Sonic Blast – Ancora, Portugal
August 8th – Brakrock – Duffel, Belgium
August 11th – Punk Rock Holiday – Tolmin, Slovenia
August 15th – Motocultor Festival – Carhaix-Plouguer, France
August 20th – Spirit Festival – Loburg, Germany
August 22nd – Parkpop – Oostkamp, Belgium