PlanetMosh Keeping it Metal
Down By Law, the seminal melodic punk band, fronted by the equally influential Dave Smalley are back with a new mini album ‘Revolution Time’. The seven new, original tracks here showcase the band at the most complex and melodic phase of their career whilst they pay homage to the artists who in turn inspired them with three stripped down, acoustic covers. Stiff Little Fingers, Thin Lizzy and Elvis Costello all getting the Down By Law treatment.
Formed in 1989,Down By Law have released eight full length albums, countless singles and have toured the globe several times over. After a hiatus between 2003 to 2009 the band re-grouped and released the critically acclaimed ‘Champions At Heart’ in 2012.
Listen to the opening track of the mini album ‘New Autonomy’ below
Frontman Dave Smalley is a punk rock icon. He had been a pioneer of the hard-core punk movement playing in such seminal bands as Boston’s DYS and Dag Nasty in Washington, D.C. Later, as the dynamic frontman to the band ALL, Smalley gained an even greater legion of fans after two albums and relentless touring. Smalley started Down By Law with their first release coming out in 1991, as a project band–a group of revolving musicians to get together to record or tour, but nothing permanent. Guitarist and song writer Sam Williams was in Florida punk bands Balance & Slap of Reality and joined up with Smalley in 1994. This undeniable pedigree has earned them maximum respect from the people who know best…their fans. Between them and their song-writing prowess, many popular acts cite them as an influence to their sound. Three decades later Down By Law are still going strong, a testament to both them and their fans.
When punk rock broke and bands cashed in on fashion trends, Down By Law stayed true to its ideals. While everyone else wrote songs about farts, Dave Smalley was penning songs about feeling lonely and out of place, afraid and uncertain. He wrote about finding strength in being apart from the larger culture, and turning the loneliness and alienation of individuals into unity and mutual respect. Dave Smalley acknowledges that politics stem from personal experience; we have our beliefs because of what we know and how we grew up. All politics are personal, and everything personal is political. And this is why Down By Law is one of the few bands that matter – the personal and political are inseparable in the music. The music is honest, and if you open your heart to it, these songs will reveal truths that no one else has enough guts to say.
In support of this new release Down By Law will be embarking on their first UK tour in over a decade in August at the following dates.
Fri 1st Aug- London, The Black Heart
Sat 2nd Aug – Norwich, The Owl Sanctuary
Sun 3rd Aug – Nottingham, The Dog House
Mon 4th Aug – Hull, Adelphi
Tues 5th Aug – Glasgow, Audio
Weds 6th Aug – Newport, Le Pub
Thurs 7th Aug – Exeter, Cavern
Revolution Time’ will be released on June 30th on 10″ coloured, splatter vinyl & digital download through Dry Heave Records, distributed by PHD
