Strung Out Announce ‘Songs of Armor and Devotion’ Album, Unleash Aggressive ‘Daggers’ Single

Strung Out have been serving the punk needs of music fans for nearly 30 years, and the band is on their way back with their latest slab of chaotic and catchy tunes. Songs of Armor and Devotion is the name of their latest effort, which will arrive Aug. 9 via Fat Wreck Chords.

The band also has some new music to lay on you as the new single "Daggers" takes aim with full on aggression. You can listen to the track below, with singer Jason Cruz sharing a story of personal turmoil against the backdrop of an increasingly dystopian society. Check it out and if you like what you hear, the track is currently available to stream on YouTube and Spotify.

Cruz tapped into his own feelings of loss and concern over the current state of America for what should be a very personal and driven record from the group. “Some songs can be armor: they can repel and they can guard you,” explains Cruz. “And they can also bring you comfort and speak of love and belonging to something. To be a good and gentle person, you have to put up a little bit of armor, but that armor never works, because you’re so caring and sensitive and vulnerable that your heart is going to be displayed on that armor anyway. There are so many thoughts and feelings in my head that I just opened up and let it go so I could explore the duality of having to defend and protect what’s inside, and at the same time make it available for the world.”

The singer goes on to add, “This opportunity I’ve been given, and everything I’ve been doing, I don’t have any say in it. I don’t have a choice. I have things inside of me that swell up when I go through this, but it’s what people put into what they hear and what they then take out of it, that’s the magic. I need to do this, but if it’s not making a connection, I have no right to be here. My favorite part about America is the pain of the poor people and what they create out of it – the culture that the poorest people of this country have created. From that came blues, jazz, rock ’n’ roll, and, to me, coming from nothing and creating something is everything to me.”

Strung Out are just starting to book shows in anticipation of their new Cameron Webb-produced album. Check out their current dates here.

Strung Out, "Daggers"

Strung Out, Songs of Armor and Devotion Artwork + Track Listing

Rebels and Saints
Daggers
Ulysses
Under The Western Sky
Monuments
White Girls
Demons
Hammer Down
Disappearing City
Politics of Sleep
Diamonds and Gold
Strange Notes
Bloody Knuckles

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