WHOOP-Szo have revealed plans for a new album titled Warrior Down. It will arrive on November 1 via You've Changed Records.
It marks the London, ON-based band's follow-up to 2016's Citizen's Ban(ne)d Radio.
The new album hears the group continuing to preach their message of social justice, with Anishinabek frontman Adam Sturgeon directly confronting the murder of his cousin by an RCMP officer, his grandfather's experience at a residential school and the broader implications of "having race and culture assigned to you by a government that doesn't represent you."
The first track to arrive from the album is "Amaruq."
"As much as we try, we cannot always control the feelings that enter our lives," the band tell Exclaim! "They can come in unexpectedly, like a wild animal appearing just when you thought yourself alone. Have you ever crossed paths with a wolf? In the North, where we lived and worked for many years, they call them Amaruq."
They add, "We dedicate this song to Larry Tamusai and all the other young people who have suffered, are suffering and will suffer the effects of inadequate mental health resources in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island."
Listen to "Amaruq" below, where you will also find the group's upcoming tour dates.
Tour dates:
09/10 Calgary, AB – The Palomino
09/12 Winnipeg, MB – The Royal Albert Hotel
09/13 Thunder Bay, ON – The Apollo
09/14 Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Dryer Fire
09/15 Sudbury, ON - Townehouse
11/01 London, ON – Rec Room
11/02 Toronto, ON – The Round House
11/06 St. Catharines, ON – The Warehouse
11/07 Guelph, ON - Ebar
11/08 Hamilton, ON – This Ain't Hollywood
11/09 Windsor, ON - Green Bean Café
11/21 Peterborough, ON - Sadleir House
11/22 Ottawa, ON – Cinqhole
11/23 Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa | M For Montreal
11/26 Moncton, NB - Caveau
11/27 Saint John, NB – Taco Pica
11/28 Halifax, NS – Gus' Pub
11/29 Fredericton, NB – The Capital
11/30 Quebec City, QC – Scanner
It marks the London, ON-based band's follow-up to 2016's Citizen's Ban(ne)d Radio.
The new album hears the group continuing to preach their message of social justice, with Anishinabek frontman Adam Sturgeon directly confronting the murder of his cousin by an RCMP officer, his grandfather's experience at a residential school and the broader implications of "having race and culture assigned to you by a government that doesn't represent you."
The first track to arrive from the album is "Amaruq."
"As much as we try, we cannot always control the feelings that enter our lives," the band tell Exclaim! "They can come in unexpectedly, like a wild animal appearing just when you thought yourself alone. Have you ever crossed paths with a wolf? In the North, where we lived and worked for many years, they call them Amaruq."
They add, "We dedicate this song to Larry Tamusai and all the other young people who have suffered, are suffering and will suffer the effects of inadequate mental health resources in Indigenous communities across Turtle Island."
Listen to "Amaruq" below, where you will also find the group's upcoming tour dates.
Tour dates:
09/10 Calgary, AB – The Palomino
09/12 Winnipeg, MB – The Royal Albert Hotel
09/13 Thunder Bay, ON – The Apollo
09/14 Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Dryer Fire
09/15 Sudbury, ON - Townehouse
11/01 London, ON – Rec Room
11/02 Toronto, ON – The Round House
11/06 St. Catharines, ON – The Warehouse
11/07 Guelph, ON - Ebar
11/08 Hamilton, ON – This Ain't Hollywood
11/09 Windsor, ON - Green Bean Café
11/21 Peterborough, ON - Sadleir House
11/22 Ottawa, ON – Cinqhole
11/23 Montreal, QC – La Sala Rossa | M For Montreal
11/26 Moncton, NB - Caveau
11/27 Saint John, NB – Taco Pica
11/28 Halifax, NS – Gus' Pub
11/29 Fredericton, NB – The Capital
11/30 Quebec City, QC – Scanner