Tough Age Return with New Album 'Shame'

You can get a taste of it now with the new song "Me in Glue"

BY Brock ThiessenPublished Sep 6, 2017

Just the other month, Tough Age gave us their new 7-inch EP Unclean, but now the Toronto group are back with a new full-length. Titled Shame, the album will arrive via Mint Records on October 20.

The LP follows 2015's I Get the Feeling Central and was recorded and mixed by Freelove Fenner's Peter Woodford in his Montreal studio the Bottle Garden. Mastering comes via Mint's Jay Arner, while the cover art above was done by Patrick Kyle.

Following a move from Vancouver to Toronto, Tough Age's lineup now boasts Jarrett Samson, Penny Clark and Jesse Locke.

"Part of my goal for this record was to really minimize as a maximization, utilize the new three-piece to explore quieter dynamics, and open up the music," frontman Samson said in a statement. "We have the dullest setup in the world — drums, bass, guitar — so I am always impressed by bands who somehow take that and make it sound experimental. On that front, Moss Lime (who Peter also recorded) sprung to mind as a recent band who made so much out of so little, and that was a real inspiration."

Clark also added, "I was impatient to make an album that reflected how Tough Age has changed. While we were recording, I was in the process of teaching myself how to play bass so my playing on the album is influenced partially by my own tension and concern about coming up inadequate. Stylistically, I tried to honour our previous bass player, Lauren Smith, while still developing my own style. I often visualize nature scenes to help me play so in my head the bass is thundery and soft."

For a taste of the album, you can hear its "Me in Glue" down below [via Consequence of Sound], where you'll also find the record's eight-song tracklist and some upcoming tour dates.

Shame:

1. Everyday Life
2. Piquant Frieze
3. Reflected
4. Me in Glue
5. Unclean
6. Pageantry
7. Ghost
8. Shame

Tour dates:

09/12 Peterborough, ON - The Garnet
09/13 Guelph, ON - University of Guelph
09/14 Toronto, ON - Monarch Tavern
10/01 Sudbury, ON - Cosmic Dave's Vinyl Emporium
10/06 Toronto, ON - Baby G
10/15 Brooklyn, NY - The Glove

Latest Coverage