Sunny War made waves last year with Anarchist Gospel. The album received praise from critics and fans alike. Yesterday (November 12), she announced her forthcoming album Armageddon in a Summer Dress with the new single “Walking Contradiction.” The track features Steve Ignorant of Crass, one of many high-profile guest appearances on the 11-track collection.
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Some say growth can only come when one steps out of their comfort zone. With her new album, War did both. Armageddon in a Summer Dress sees her further refining her blend of punk and roots music. “Touring behind Anarchist Gospel made me want to make a bigger-sounding record and have a whole band rather than just playing solo acoustic or with a three-piece,” War said in a statement. “I wanted to try stuff out of my comfort zone and try and have more fun playing. I definitely wanted to make this album for a badass five-piece band,” she added.
About her blend of punk and roots music, War said, “To me, it’s the same kind of music. If you’re into punk for the lyrics and the message, there’s definitely a lot of old-time music that has that spirit. Folk used to be very anti-establishment. Pete Seeger, union songs, Woody Guthrie—that’s punk rock s–t. It’s all about being an outsider.”
Sunny War Creates to Survive
Some artists create music because they feel called to do so. Sunny War is one of those artists. Making music helps her stay away from the substance abuse that nearly killed her in the past. “If I’m not touring, I’m either going to play music all day or I’m going to get drunk,” she shared in a statement. “It’s really one or the other. I’m just obsessively trying to work on something so that I’m making healthier decisions that day,” she added.
While she creates to stay away from alcohol and drugs, many of the songs are rooted in the disorientation she felt while unknowingly suffering from hallucinations in her home which she inherited from her late father.
“I spent the winter seeing things and hearing things,” she shared. “The house is 100 years old, and I was in there by myself. I could hear people walking around and talking, but when I jumped out of bed with my machete, there was nobody there. I assumed it was my dad, and I started writing about the ghosts that I was living with,” she explained. Then, she learned that her house wasn’t as haunted as she had assumed. “Something broke and I had to fix it, so I called the gas company even though I didn’t have the money. The guy discovered major gas leaks all over the house. I thought I was losing my mind, but I was just hallucinating from the gas. After I got that fixed, I never saw or heard another ghost,” she said.
Armageddon in a Summer Dress Tracklist and Info
Armageddon in a Summer Dress will drop on February 21 via New West Records. The album will be available across digital platforms as well as compact disc and standard black vinyl. A limited Clear Pink color vinyl edition as well as a limited compact disc edition autographed by Sunny War will be available at Independent Retailers. A limited Green & Black Swirl color vinyl edition of 200 will be available via Rough Trade. A limited signed compact disc edition as well as a limited “Cry Baby Blue” color vinyl edition of 500 will be available directly via New West Records.
Tracklist
- “One Way Train”
- “Bad Times”
- “Rise”
- “Ghosts”
- “Walking Contradiction” featuring Steve Ignorant
- “Cry Baby” featuring Valerie June
- “No One Calls Me Baby”
- “Scornful Heart” featuring Tré Burt
- “Gone Again” featuring John Doe
- “Lay Your Body”
- “Debbie Downer”
Featured Image by Joshua Black Wilkins
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