Will be available September 28 2018
The Black Queen, the unbridled experimental electronic-meets-alternative trio of Greg Puciato (ex-The Dillinger Escape Plan), Josh Eustis (Telefon Tel Aviv) and Steven Alexander Ryan (Nine Inch Nails/A Perfect Circle technician), return with their sophomore album, Infinite Games, on Sept. 28th.
The 10-track album also marks the debut release to come from the band’s newly formed creative entity, Federal Prisoner, a joint collective between the band members and acclaimed fine artist Jesse Draxler (creator of the artwork for both Fever Daydream and Infinite Games). While the partners are keeping their plans for Federal Prisoner under wraps, the enterprise will serve as the creative homestead for the foursome, with future releases already in the works. “Federal Prisoner won’t function like a typical label,” says Puciato. “It’s an expression of passion and individualism in a way that opens more doors for us to create and to own what we create with minimal compromise. It’s as much an act of refusal as it is a statement of intent. We won’t be working within the current industry blueprint of premieres, ‘instant grat tracks’ or any of that nonsense. We’re concentrating on the music, videography and packaging, an aural and visual experience. It’s exciting to create our own path.”
Infinite Games follows a host of emotional moments for the band members, from Puciato’s Polish bus accident, the demise of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Eustis’ return to Telefon Tel Aviv, and a robbery of the trio’s storage space. It was these events that informed Infinite Games. Eustis, Puciato and Ryan seized the opportunity to rebuild and create their own studio, giving them a spot to regularly convene, to follow kernels of ideas to fruition (or not) and to re-cement their friendship that’s often been sidelined by touring with other outfits.
“This time, we learned how to do everything ourselves,” explains Puciato, discussing what’s changed since the band’s debut, Fever Daydream. “There’s less uncertainty and more confidence. I’m speaking both about the artistic and business aspect of creating and releasing an album. As for what’s changed with Infinite Games, I think it feels more conceptual as an album. It’s less a collection of songs and more about the front to back listen. Probably because it wasn’t compiled over a four-year span of time like the last one. This one is actually hookier but more insidious, it’s a more delicate record.”
Infinite Games pre-orders are available now via theblackqueen.bandcamp.com. Vinyl, cassette and CD are highly limited with several variations already sold out since they announced the album exclusively to their fanbase.
Infinite Games track list:
1. Even Still I Want To
2. Thrown Into the Dark (Rockest Record on BBC Radio 1 Rock Show)
3. No Accusations
4. Your Move
5. Lies About You
6. Impossible Condition
7. Spatial Boundaries
8. 100 to Zero
9. Porcelain Veins
10. One Edge of Two
The Black Queen tour dates:
September 28 Los Angeles, CA 1720
October 5 Bristol, UK Thekla
October 7 Glasgow, UK SWG3 Studio Warehouse
October 8 Leeds, UK Brudenell Social Club
October 9 Manchester, UK Deaf Institute
October 10 Nottingham, UK Nottingham Contemporary
October 11 London, UK Bush Hall
October 12 Tilburg, Netherlands Poppodium 013
October 15 Sint-Niklaas, Belgium Sint-Niklaas De Casino
October 16 Frankfurt, Germany Zoom
October 18 Cologne, Germany Blue Shell
October 19 Paris, France Supersonic
October 20 Milan, Italy Legend 54
October 22 Vienna, Austria B 72
October 23 Munich, Germany Backstage Halle
October 24 Leipzig, Germany Werk 2
October 25 Prague, Czech Republic Chapeau Rouge
October 26 Warsaw, Poland Klug Hybrydy
October 27 Berlin, Germany Gretchen
October 28 Hamburg, Germany Nochtspeicher
October 30 Copenhagen, Denmark Stengade
October 31 Oslo, Norway Parkteatret
November 1 Stockholm, Sweden Nalen
November 3 St. Petersburg, Russia Mod Club
November 4 Moscow, Russia 16 Tons
January 17 Brisbane, Australia Black Bear Lodge
January 18 Sydney, Australia Landsdowne Hotel – SOLD OUT
January 19 Melbourne, Australia Northcote Social Club – SOLD OUT
January 20 Melbourne, Australia Northcote Social Club
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