Born Ruffians Surprise Fans With Double Release “30th Century War” & “Albatross” Off Upcoming LP
With their latest LP JUICE still fresh in the mind’s of their fans since dropping back in April, Toronto alt-rock trio Born Ruffians have announced they will be releasing a new full-length on October 2nd, working backward with the title SQUEEZE. The 9-track collection features songs written well before COVID, going back to their Uncle, Duke, and the Chief days of 2018, but are now seeing the light of day thanks to Holy Fuck’s Graham Walsh.
“We got in touch with Walsh in Toronto and began recording with him, without really knowing what we were doing,” explains the band. “We were just recording because we had songs. And that’s what ended up becoming JUICE and SQUEEZE”.
In tandem with the album announcement, Born Ruffians have shared two new singles “30th Century War” and “Albatross” to give a taste of the upcoming project.
Opening the track list with the politically-charged “30th Century War”, frontman Luke Lalonde sings “All filled up with emotional conflict / Peace and understanding is so, so basic / And I’m always looking over my shoulder or up in the sky”, channeling the likes of Elvis Costello and the calm-before-the-storm of moments of Zack De La Rocha to call out the unnerving political climate.
It picks up, bringing the band together while the doing their best to keep things light and upbeat by borrowing hints of ’80’s new wave of The Police and Talking Heads, mixed with their familiar brassy, alt-rock style.
Acting as a sonic contrast and palette cleanser of sorts, the accompanying second single “Albatross” brings it down into a more delicate, Thom Yorke-esque ballad. Brooding synths and timely percussion bring in the dramatics, as a brass section warms up gradually into the mix.
Both singles are, as Lalonde puts it, “thinking about the end of the American empire and these massive global shifts that we’re seeing” and wondering “How long does it take for a full-on revolt? When do the prisoners realize we outnumber the guards?”. “30th Century War” with its gusto and energy, and “Albatross” with its contemplative, serene atmosphere, bookend what will hopefully be another stellar addition to Born Ruffians’ discography.
