The record was tracked live over 4 days at Bear Bites Horse in London with producer Wayne Adams. Though “Character Stop” still features the pummelling noise-punk that USA Nails have become renowned for, it’s balanced with more sober, downbeat moments. On it they explore identity – like the online personas of aggressive twitter users, influencers and vloggers, as well as more introspective takes on mental health, giving up on dreams, the joy (and despair) of being a part-timer, and contemplating who they would be if they decided to hang up their guitars for good. Guitarist Gareth Thomas comments,
“For me “Character Stop” is the best album USA Nails have ever made by miles. It’s more varied than anything we’ve ever done before and I think it’s stronger for it. I feel like it’s more fully realised, and more complete as a collection of songs. Everytime we get in a room together and write, the dynamic of our relationship as writers (and mates) develops a bit further, we get better at anticipating and complimenting each other. We’ve always tried to be efficient in our creativity, to do what feels natural and just let things flow. I’m obviously still really happy with all the music we’ve written up to this point, but on this record everything seemed to come together so sweetly. ”
Frontman Steven Hodson describes first single ‘Revolution Worker’ as ‘about not knowing how long you have left at being in a band and life in general. My Dad died quite young and now I’m a father it’s something I think about quite a lot. It’s also about balancing time between family, work and band. All that grim stuff is wrapped up in a hell of a catchy riff, feedback and woodblocks.’
USA Nails will tour Europe and the US in 2021, following a clutch of UK album launch shows in late 2020.
The coming months will also see them release a split with Petbrick (ex-Sepultura) on God Unknown Records (Pigsx7, Part Chimp, Goat, Gnod etc) and Psychic Graveyard (ex-Arab On Radar/Skin Graft).
In the last few years, USA Nails have toured with Sub-Pop lovelies Metz, completed numerous USA and European headline stints, and supported the likes of Mission Of Burma, John, Future Of The Left, Mclusky*, Cocaine Piss, Viagra Boys, Murder Capital, and Unsane.
The band have previously had records out on Smalltown America (UK), Too Pure (UK), Learning Curve (USA), Dipped In Gold (UK) and Hominid Sounds (UK) as well as numerous indie and DIY labels. They’ve previously played ArcTanGent, Raw Power, Best Kept Secret, Triptych, La Ferme Electrique, and Le Mini Who (Le Guess Who fringe festival) among others. They’ve enjoyed radio play from Steve Lamacq, Marc Riley, Huw Stevens and the like, as well as playing a live session for John Kennedy on Radio X.
USA Nails feature current and ex-members of – Blacklisters, Kong, Oceansize, Silent Front, Death Pedals, Future of the Left and Dead Arms.
Pre-order now – https://usanails.bandcamp.com/album/character-stop
“Heavy, crushing, and aggressive post-hardcore” – The Needle Drop
“Sonic titans” – The Quietus
“A must-hear punk-nasty” – London In Stereo
“A second solid ode to punishing brute force” – Loud & Quiet
” A heavy and primal affair …No Pleasure is rich with songs best played as loud as possible” – The Line Of Best Fit
“A mix of Drive Like Jehu headbangers, nods to psychedelia and a throttling of hardcore for good measure” – The Skinny
