Equal Vision Records’ Hail The Sun will release their new full-length, Culture Scars, on June 17 – just before the band begins their run on the 2016 Vans Warped Tour. The band recently debuted a live video for“Paranoia”, and today they have launched a new video for “Burn Nice and Slow (The Formative Years)” via Youtube.com/equalvision, which features an incredible animated storyline and personal footage from the band that was filmed between May 2010 and March 2016.
Pre-orders are also available now at hailthesun.merchnow.com. The first pressing for the LP is limited to 1000, with three color variations including 700 on sand colored vinyl (merchNOW/retail), 200 on forest green vinyl (tour exclusive) and 100 on opaque white vinyl (merchNOW). “Burn Nice and Slow (The Formative Years)” and the album version of “Paranoia” are both now available via digital retailers such as Spotify, iTunes, Google Play,AmazonMP3 and as an instant grat track via merchNOW.
Culture Scars is Hail The Sun‘s third full-length, and was recorded with producer Mike Watts (The Dear Hunter, Hopesfall, As Cities Burn). The thought provoking album offers a dark mix of personal reflection and social commentary, exploring the relationships between observation vs. action and perception vs. reality – and the effect of each on human emotion and society as a whole.
“Burn Nice and Slow (The Formative Years)” takes listeners back to 2009, when the band formed upon meeting one another while attending college in Chico, CA. The introspective song explores vocalist/drummer Donovan Melero’s personal journey of overcoming addiction and reflects on his growth since that time, and the impact that getting sober (now seven years clean) has had on his perception of himself, his past relationships, and his appreciation for the opportunity to make music and tour with his bandmates.
“That time in college for me was a massive learning experience. I came to the conclusion later in life that I was not ready to live and take care of myself on my own at that time, and while I was there for school, school always took a backseat. I’ve always seen my college years divided into two parts – pre-sobriety and post sobriety. The lyrics of this song reflect both parts. I felt like I was a piece of shit most of the time, totally undeserving, and definitely self-absorbed at the same time,” shares Melero. “That state of mind negatively influenced my self-esteem, and the first relationship I was in. It caused me to be complacent and selfish, and see through a filter. Ultimately, I’m sure it’s what led to that particular breakup but what always kept me grounded, and what was to follow, was playing music with the four people I share the stage with to this day. We would tour during every break from school we had. Although we all LOVED it, it was also a learning experience filled with bad shows, bad weather, and dealing with each other for long periods of time – but it has led to some of the best times of my life.”
He continues, “My bandmates and I became more like brothers, with a common goal and dream. Those four years of school were crucial in my own personal development, as well as the band’s development. This song is an attempt at capturing the beginning stages that led to where everything has ended up.”
Culture Scars is the follow-up to Wake (2014) and two prior self-released albums: Elephantitis EP (2012) and Pow! Right in the Kisser! (2010).
Hail The Sun is comprised of Donovan Melero (vocals, drums), Aric Garcia (guitar), John Stirrat (bass), and Shane Gann (guitar).
TOUR DATES
Hail The Sun w/My Iron Lung and Hearts Like Lions
Jun 12 Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Jun 13 Portland, OR @ Analog Cafe
Jun 14 Chico, CA @ 1078 Gallery
Jun 15 San Francisco, CA @ Brick and Mortar
Jun 17 Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction*
Jun 18 Van Nuys, CA @ White Oak Music Hall
Jun 19 San Diego, CA @ House of Blues – Voodoo Room
Jun 20 Scottsdale, AZ @ Pub Rock
Jun 21 El Paso, TX @ Mesa Music Hall
Jun 22 Albuquerque, NM @ The Co-op
*Hail The Sun w/My Iron Lung and VIS only
2016 Vans Warped Tour
Jun 24 Dallas, TX @ Gexa Energy Pavilion
Jun 25 San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
Jun 26 Houston, TX @ NRG Park Main St Yellow Lot
Jun 27 New Orleans, LA @ Mardi Gras World
Jun 29 Nashville, TN @ The Fairgrounds
Jun 30 Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre
Jul 01 St. Petersburg, FL @ Vinoy Park
Jul 02 Orlando, FL @ Tinker Field
Jul 03 West Palm Beach, FL @ S. Florida Fairgrounds
Jul 05 Charlotte, NC @ PNC Music Pavilion
Jul 06 Virginia Beach, VA @ Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
Jul 07 Syracuse, NY @ Lakeview Amphitheater
Jul 08 Camden, NJ @ BB&T Pavilion
Jul 09 Wantagh, NY @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater
Jul 10 Hartford, CT @ XFINITY Theatre
Jul 11 Scranton, PA @ The Pavilion at Montage Mountain
Jul 13 Mansfield, MA @ Xfinity Center
Jul 14 Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Performing Arts Center
Jul 15 Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion
Jul 16 Columbia, MD @ Merriweather Post Pavilion
