Last year NJ hardcore heavyweights GEL released their debut full-length, ‘Only Constant,’ drawing acclaim from fans and critics alike and skyrocketing them into the ranks of aggressive music’s most exciting new groups. But GEL are showing no signs of slowing down: today the band have announced that they’ve joined the Blue Grape Music roster and will be releasing a new EP, ‘Persona,’ on August 16th.
With ‘Persona,’ GEL have managed to harness all of their momentum and turn it into an unstoppable force heading straight for your ears. Lead single ‘Mirage’ demonstrates an evolution in GEL’s sound, taking their ultra-visceral hardcore and somehow dialing up the intensity even further. In under three minutes the band pack in their signature stomping riffs and roaring vocals, but there’s also a newfound dynamism that’s as catchy as it is crushing. The song arrives alongside a new music video directed by Eric Richter (Knocked Loose, Jesus Piece, Koyo).
Produced/engineered by Jon Markson (Drug Church, Drain, Jivebomb), their new EP captures GEL embracing a bold sound without sacrificing even an ounce of the primal energy that makes their music so special. The band worked more collaboratively than ever before, tapping into the creative confidence gained through relentless touring to push themselves in new directions. “We really wanted to fill out the songs more and make them more nuanced,” explains vocalist Sami Kaiser. “It’s a step forward, it’s different, it’s catchy, but it still really sounds like us.” The result is a widescreen version of GEL’s urgent, stomping hardcore that only amplifies their innate ferocity.
GEL will be continuing their nonstop touring ways in 2024, with worldwide dates already scheduled alongside bands like Fiddlehead, Militarie Gun, and Have Heart, as well as upcoming festival appearances at Sick New World, Download, and Primavera Sound. See full itinerary below.
‘Persona’ tracklist:
01. Mirage
02. Shame
03. Persona
04. Martyr
05. Vanity
Upcoming Tour Dates:
April 27th – Sick New World – Las Vegas, NV
May 9th – Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY
May 10th – The Warehouse – Richmond, VA
May 12th – Welcome to Rockville – Daytona Beach, FL
May 13th – Lodge of Sorrows – Savannah, GA
May 14th – Eulogy – Asheville, NC
May 16th – Black Circle Brewery – Indiannapolis, IN
May 17th – Sonic Temple – Columbus, OH
May 18th – Bottlerocket Social Hall – Pittsburgh, PA
May 19th – White Eagle Hall – Jersey City, NJ
May 31st – Primavera Sound – Barcelona, Spain
June 2nd – The Joiners – Southampton, UK
June 3rd – The Bullingdon – Oxford, UK
June 4th – Cavern – Exeter, UK
June 5th – Boileroom – Guildford, UK
June 8th – Primavera Sound Porto – Porto, Portugal
June 10th – Warmaudio – Lyon, France
June 12th – The Star & Garter – Manchester, UK
June 13th – Nice n Sleazy – Glasgow, UK
June 14th – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK
June 15th – Download Festival – Donnington, UK
June 17th – The Garage – London, UK
June 18th – Green Door Store – Brighton, UK
June 19th – Exchange – Bristol, UK
June 21st – Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel, Belgium
June 22nd – Full Force – Gräfenhainichen, Germany
June 24th – Pontelungo – Bologna, Italy
June 25th – Bad Bonn – Düdingen, Switzerland
June 27th – Jera on Air – Ysselstey, Netherland
June 28th – Vainstream Rockfest – Munster, Germany
June 30th – Hellfest – Clisson, France
July 2nd – Kesselhaus – Wiesbaden, Germany
July 3rd – headCRASH – Hamburg, Germany
July 4th – Rosklide Festival – Roskilde, Denmark
July 6th – Eurockeennes – Belfort, France
July 7th – Ieperfest – Ypres, Belgium
July 20th – Roadrunner– Boston, MA
July 26th – District Music Hall – Norwalk, CT
July 27th– Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
July 29th – Motorco Music Hall – Durham, NC
July 31st – The Basement East – Nashville, TN
August 1st – Terminal West – Atlanta, GA
August 2nd – Porto – Louisville, KY
September 27th – Louder than Life – Louisville, KY
October 10th – Aftershock – Sacramento, CA