METZ have announced a long-awaited return to North American stages this year. In support of their 2020 critically-acclaimed album, Atlas Vending, METZ will take their intense, life-affirming performances on a co-headline run with longtime friends and fellow Canadians, Preoccupations. The tour will begin on Nov. 18 in Phoenix, AZ with stops including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Detroit, Montreal, Brooklyn, and Chicago before closing when METZ make a two-night hometown stand on Dec. 17 & 18 at Lee’s Palace in Toronto, ON. These dates are in addition to their previously announced European tour with Psychic Graveyard. See below for a full list of all global 2021 and 2022 shows.
Of their impending post-pandemic tour, frontman Alex Edkins shares, “We are incredibly excited to be announcing a real in-person tour for later this year! We cannot wait to share Atlas Vending with you and to reconnect with our musical friends and family worldwide.”
Today the band has also unveiled a live video of their stand-out single “A Boat to Drown In,” a clear reminder of the unparalleled energy and spirit of METZ live. The concert footage was shot at the Opera House in Toronto during their livestream performance of Atlas Vending at the end of 2020. Like what you see and hear? Then stay tuned for some exciting news the group will be sharing around their Live at the Opera House performance in the coming weeks.
METZ on the road:
2021: Nov. 18 - Phoenix, AZ - Crescent Ballroom Nov. 19 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom Nov. 20 - San Francisco, CA - The Independent Nov. 22 - Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom Nov. 23 - Seattle, WA - The Crocodile - Showroom Nov. 24 - Vancouver, BC - Biltmore Nov. 26 - Edmonton, AB - The Starlite Room Nov. 27 - Calgary, AB - Commonwealth Bar & Stage Nov. 29 - Winnipeg, MB - Winnipeg Park Theatre Nov. 30 - St. Paul, MN - Turf Club Dec. 02 - Milwaukee, WI - The Back Room - Colectivo Dec. 03 - Detroit, MI - Museum of Contemporary Art Dec. 06 - Montreal, QC - Theatre Fairmount Dec. 07 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall Dec. 09 - Brooklyn, NY - Elsewhere: Hall Dec. 10 - NY, NY - The Bowery Ballroom Dec. 11 - Philadelphia, PA - The Foundry at The Fillmore Dec. 13 - Washington, DC - Union Stage Dec. 14 - Columbus, OH - A&R Music Bar Dec. 15 - Chicago, IL - Metro Dec. 17 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only) Dec. 18 - Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace (METZ only)
*All shows w/ Preoccupations except Toronto, Toronto on sale now, all additional shows on sale Friday, June 18th at 10 am local.
2022: Apr. 01 - Leicester, UK - O2 Academy 2 Apr. 02 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social Apr. 03 - Manchester, UK - YES Apr. 04 - Newcastle, UK - The Cluny Apr. 06 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo Apr. 07 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Apr. 08 - Bristol, UK - Thekla Apr. 09 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store Apr. 10 - London, UK - Scala Apr. 11 - Lille, FR - L’Aeronef Apr. 12 - Antwerp, BE - Trix Apr. 13 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain Apr. 15 - Biarritz, FR - Atabal Apr. 16 - Vigo, ES - La Iguana Apr. 17 - Porto, PT - Hard Club Apr. 18 - Lisbon, PT - LAV Apr. 20 - Madrid, ES - Independence Live Apr. 21 - Barcelona, ES - LA 2 Apr. 22 - Nimes, FR - Paloma Apr. 23 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn Apr. 24 - Lausanne, CH - Les Docks Apr. 25 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Apr. 27 - Munich, DE - Kranhalle Apr. 28 - Vienna, AT - Arena Wien Apr. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido May 01 - Rotterdam, NL - Rotown May 03 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen May 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang May 05 - Groningen, NL - Vera May 06 - Utrecht, NL - TivoliVredenburg May 07 - Cologne, DE - Artheater
Sub Pop proudly presents new, exclusive, two-song singles by Duma, Hand Habits, and LIDS. The three singles are part of the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6, which continues Sub Pop’s incessant pandering to record collectors by way of limited-edition, subscription-only 7” vinyl singles. While the vinyl editions are only available to Singles Club subscribers – which you can become via the Sub Pop Mega Mart! – the music can now be heard on all digital music services. If you want the 7”s, hurry up and subscribe, as the 1,000 available subscriptions are nearly sold-out. Now that you’ve suffered through the sales pitch, here’s a bit about the artists!
Nairobi, Kenya’s Duma wowed us with their self-titled 2020 debut on Nyege Nyege Tapes. The duo – vocalist Martin Khanja (aka Lord Spike Heart) and producer/guitarist Sam Karugu - slams together metal, punk, industrial, and aggressive electronic music to blistering, boundary smashing effect. Their two songs, “Cannis” and “Mbukinya,” are a thrilling taste of Africa’s metal/experimental underground.
Hand Habits, the songwriting outlet of guitarist Meg Duffy, brings us two lovely new tracks: “motherless” and “no reply.” Lest the fact that we are releasing a Hand Habits record not make it clear, we at Sub Pop are huge fans of these specific songs, and Meg’s thoughtful, innovative, and all-around gorgeous music in general. Hand Habits’ next LP, produced by Sasami Ashworth, is out later this year on Saddle Creek.
LIDS is a new-ish band and veritable Canadian supergroup featuring Alex Edkins of METZ, Brian Borcherdt of Holy Fuck/Dusted, and Doug MacGregor of Constantines. Their single, “Furniture” b/w “Half Twin,” is LIDS’ second vinyl release (following the “Sarsfest” b/w “Blank Flag” single). The tracks make for a thoroughly engrossing 1-2 punch of melodic post-punk, with hints of Suicide and Television Personalities, and more than a hint of the rock-par-excellence LIDS’ members are known for.
Written and recorded during the 2017 Strange Peace sessions with Steve Albini, these two beloved offerings, initially left on the cutting room floor, were revisited, reworked, and ultimately reinvigorated during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic. With “Acid” and “Slow Decay” the Canadian trio continue to break new ground while honing their ever-evolving, nuanced approach to pummeling rhythms and off-kilter melodies. The band describes “Acid” as, “…a song about having a fresh perspective, a newly widened outlook on the world and one’s life. Being shaken awake from a malaise and realizing there is no time for petty bullshit. Love what you love, love who you love! Embrace it and don’t wait.” Indeed, a fresh perspective and a sense of urgency is something METZ always manages to offer. These two songs are available physically on a 7” from Three One G, limited to 1,000 copies, with one side of the vinyl custom printed by The Black Moon Design, and featuring cover art by Jonathan Bauerle. Both songs are also now available for streaming and download from Sub Pop.
The famed Jeff Tweedy, Nairobi techno-punk-metallers Duma, and the Pacific NW’s own BNH Deluxe will join John Waters, LIDS, Sheltered Workshop Singers, and more TBA in releasing singles as part of the Sub Pop Singles Club Vol. 6. The Singles Club Vol. 6 continues Sub Pop’s habit of sporadically releasing series of limited-edition, subscription-only 7” singles by artists that we, and hopefully you, like. Subscribe now because these 7”s will be limited to a mere 1,000 copies, and once they are gone, they are gone forever!
The new METZ video for “Sugar Pill,” from their acclaimed 2020 release, Atlas Vending, is out now. Shot in Thunder Bay, Ontario, the video is an homage to the unstoppable spirit of skateboarding and a testament to the inspiring drive to ride in any condition and any environment. Director Shayne Ehman says of the video: “Skateboarding feels great. We love to skate. The birds need to sing, we need to skate. I hope the winter skateboarding footage carries with it some of the love we have for skateboarding. I hope it contains a spirit of perseverance and the will to make it happen. Come wind, ice, or stormy weather, we shovel snow, we torch frost, we skate.” Watch the video now.
Atlas Vending, the most dynamic, dimensional, and compelling album of METZ’s career, is available now worldwide from Sub Pop.”Sugar Pill” is the 7th(!) video from the new album.
What people are saying about Atlas Vending: “Atlas Vending is the sound of a band fully confident in itself and delivering their biggest and best work yet.” ★★★★ - Upset Magazine
“The Toronto band maintain a formidable degree of power and velocity throughout their fourth album yet… provide more welcome respites from the ferocious barrage they’re otherwise highly skilled at delivering.” [8/10] - Uncut
“A record which draws on 35 years of North American alt-rock excellence, while still stamping its creators’ own identity firmly across its grooves.” [4/5] -Kerrang
”By gathering everything the group has done to date and mixing it together METZ manage to create a perfectly potent cocktail, one filled with nostalgia, sadness and grinding euphoria.” [8/10] - Loud and Quiet
“The expansiveness of the sonic palette on Atlas Vending just gives the band more room to paint outside the lines.” [8/10] - Under The Radar
“A record that feels both raw and refined, this will shake you to the core”★★★★ - DIY Magazine
“METZ still cooks and burns with the roar of Jesus Lizard and the pounding noise of Stnnng, but four albums in, the band is discovering new sonic routes to travel” - AV Club
2021 Tour Dates: Sep. 15 - Bristol, UK - The Fleece Sep. 16 - Manchester, UK - YES Sep. 17 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo Sep. 18 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social Sep. 19 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Sep. 21 - Leicester, UK - 02 Academy Sep. 22 - London, UK - Scala Sep. 23 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store Sep. 24 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain Sep. 25 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn Sep. 26 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Sep. 27 - Lausanne, CH - Le Romandie at Les Docks Sep. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido Sep. 30 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Oct. 01 - Hannover, DE - Glocksee Oct. 02 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen Oct. 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang Oct. 05 - Cologne, DE - Gebäude 9 Oct. 06 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Oct. 07 - Groningen, NL - Vera Oct. 08 - Antwerp, BE - Trix
METZ has shared a new video for their song “Framed by the Comet’s Tail”, directed by the band’s drummer, Hayden Menzies. The visual companion to a personal favorite track of Menzies’ from Atlas Vending was created within a set of self-imposed limitations; it was all shot by Menzies on his phone, edited at home, with no borrowed content. He says of the video “It’s not a literal interpretation of the song by any means, but a document of random firing synapses of the mind during isolation.” Watch the video now.
Atlas Vending is METZ’s most dynamic, dimensional, and compelling work of their career, and is now available worldwide from Sub Pop.
What people are saying about Atlas Vending: “Atlas Vending is the sound of a band fully confident in itself and delivering their biggest and best work yet.” ★★★★ - Upset Magazine
“The Toronto band maintain a formidable degree of power and velocity throughout their fourth album yet… provide more welcome respites from the ferocious barrage they’re otherwise highly skilled at delivering.” [8/10] - Uncut
” A record which draws on 35 years of North American alt-rock excellence, while still stamping its creators’ own identity firmly across its grooves.” [4/5] -Kerrang
”By gathering everything the group has done to date and mixing it together Metz manage to create a perfectly potent cocktail, one filled with nostalgia, sadness and grinding euphoria.” [8/10] - Loud and Quiet
“The expansiveness of the sonic palette on Atlas Vending just gives the band more room to paint outside the lines.” [8/10] - Under The Radar
“A record that feels both raw and refined, this will shake you to the core”★★★★ - DIY Magazine
“METZ still cooks and burns with the roar of Jesus Lizard and the pounding noise of Stnnng, but four albums in, the band is discovering new sonic routes to travel” - AV Club
2021 Tour Dates: Sep. 15 - Bristol, UK - The Fleece Sep. 16 - Manchester, UK - YES Sep. 17 - Glasgow, UK - Stereo Sep. 18 - Blackpool, UK - Bootleg Social Sep. 19 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club Sep. 21 - Leicester, UK - 02 Academy Sep. 22 - London, UK - Scala Sep. 23 - Brighton, UK - Green Door Store Sep. 24 - Paris, FR - Petit Bain Sep. 25 - Dudingen, CH - Bad Bonn Sep. 26 - Zurich, CH - Bogen F Sep. 27 - Lausanne, CH - Le Romandie at Les Docks Sep. 29 - Berlin, DE - Lido Sep. 30 - Leipzig, DE - UT Connewitz Oct. 01 - Hannover, DE - Glocksee Oct. 02 - Copenhagen, DK - Loppen Oct. 04 - Hamburg, DE - Hafenklang Oct. 05 - Cologne, DE - Gebäude 9 Oct. 06 - Utrecht, NL - Tivoli Oct. 07 - Groningen, NL - Vera Oct. 08 - Antwerp, BE - Trix
