Photo by: J Whitaker
Official press release:
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. 28.
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. Puciato says:
“Federal Prisoner won’t function like a typical label. 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. Puciato, discussing what’s changed since the band’s debut, Fever Daydream, explains:
“This time, we learned how to do everything ourselves. 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 Bandcamp. Vinyl, cassette and CD are highly limited with several variations already sold out.
Infinite Games track listing:
1. “Even Still I Want To”
2. “Thrown Into The Dark”
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”
Tour dates:
9/15 – New York, NY | Gramercy Theatre
9/23 – Chicago, IL | Metro
9/28 – Los Angeles, CA | 1720
10/05 – Bristol, UK | Thekla
10/07 – Glasgow, UK | SWG3 Studio Warehouse
10/08 – Leeds, UK | Brudenell Social Club
10/09 – Manchester, UK | Deaf Institute
10/10 – Nottingham, UK | Nottingham Contemporary
10/11 – London, UK | Bush Hall
10/12 – Tilburg, NL | Poppodium 013
10/15 – Sint-Niklaas, BE | Sint-Niklaas De Casino
10/16 – Frankfurt, DE | Zoom
10/18 – Cologne, DE | Blue Shell
10/19 – Paris, FR | Supersonic
10/20 – Milan, IT | Legend 54
10/22 – Vienna, AT | B 72
10/23 – Munich, DE | Backstage Halle
10/24 – Leipzig, DE | Werk 2
10/25 – Prague, CZ | Chapeau Rouge
10/26 – Warsaw, PL | Klug Hybrydy
10/27 – Berlin, DE | Gretchen
10/28 – Hamburg, DE | Nochtspeicher
10/30 – Copenhagen, DK | Stengade
10/31 – Oslo, NO | Parkteatret
11/01 – Stockholm, SE | Nalen
11/03 – St. Petersburg, RU | Mod Club
11/04 – Moscow, RU | 16 Tons
1/18 – Sydney, AU | Landsdowne Hotel
1/19 – Melbourne, AU | Northcote Social Club
