Alternative-rock/ pop punk mainstays Cartel have announced their first new full-length LP since 2013’s hit record Collider. The record, titled Learning How To Cope and set to release September 18th via Field Day Records, features the band’s two most recent singles, “Oxy Moron” and “Give Or Take”. Regarding the record, vocalist Will Pugh states…
“This music saved me. It helped me reconnect with empathy, with community and with the idea that everybody belongs. That ethos – honesty, openness,and taking care of your people – is what this record is built on. It feels different, but it still feels like Cartel.”
Alongside the album announcement, they’ve released two brand new tracks. The first is “Deadbeat Drag”, full of the beefiest guitars, punchy drums, and classic Cartel ferocity, with the second track “Shirts & Skins” released earlier this year via Bandcamp in the wake of the Minneapolis ICE murder, carrying the same punch: a heavy hitting dissonant intro, bitcrushed synths, and lyrics making it blatantly apparent they don’t plan on staying silent about the things that should be talked about. About “Shirts & Skins”, Pugh said…
“We’re way past the point of being able to sit back and just provide the safe space that people can go and get away from everything. Society has been doing that long enough and not having difficult conversations – and that’s just kind of over. If you’re not going to say something now, when are you ever going to fucking say something?”
Fans can expect to hear parts of the new album live, as the band is gearing up for a string of live performances, including festival appearances at Vans Warped Tour Montreal, Soundtrack Of Your Summer Festival, Riot Fest, Four Chord Music Festival, and Furnace Fest. The band also plans to celebrate the new record with a release-day show in Atlanta at both Shakey Knees Festival and a late-night album release show at the Masquerade. Furthermore, Cartel will serve as direct support for pop-punk mainstays State Champs starting in November for their Around The World And Back Again Tour.
Listen to “Deadbeat Drag” + “Shirts & Skins” here.
Get tickets for upcoming shows here.
Upcoming Festival Appearances
August 22 – Montreal, QC – Vans Warped Tour Montreal
August 29 – Boston, MA – Soundtrack of Your Summer Festival (w/ Boys Like Girls)
September 18 – Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees
September 18 – Atlanta, GA – Album Release show at Masquerade (Purgatory) **
September 20 – Chicago, IL – Riot Fest
September 26 – Pittsburgh, PA – Four Chord Festival
October 10 – Birmingham, AL – Furnace Fest
** – Indicates headline show
Upcoming Tour Dates w/State Champs:
November 5 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall
November 6 – Buffalo, NY – Riverworks
November 7 – Indianapolis, IN – Deluxe @ Old National Centre
November 8 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
November 10 – Dallas, TX – Echo Lounge
November 12 – Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren
November 13 – Las Vegas, NV – Brooklyn Bowl
November 14 – Riverside, CA – Riverside Municipal Auditorium
November 15 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades
November 17 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
November 18 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox
November 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – Rockwell at The Complex
November 21 – Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall
November 23 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre
November 24 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom
November 25 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall
November 27 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom
November 29 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall
December 1 – Richmond, VA – The National
December 3 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl
December 5 – St. Petersburg, FL – Jannus Live
December 6 – Orlando, FL – House of Blues
