After spending most of 2022 on the road supporting their critically acclaimed sophomore release, ‘Dead Lights’, Chicago’s post-punk demolition duo BELLHEAD are set to release their newest EP ‘Good Intentions’ on May 5th.
For BELLHEAD’s third release, the band returned to their trusty production team of audio engineer Neil Strauch (Iron and Wine / Counting Crows / Owls / Joan of Arc / Walking Bicycles / Slow Mass) mastering engineer Carl Saff (Acid Mothers Temple / Smoking Popes / Red Fang / Guided by Voices), and management team David Schock (WTII Records).
The new EP ‘Good Intentions’ features six songs which explore a newfound “POP” sensibility giving nods to New Order and a wink to Jesus and Mary Chain. Starting with the lead single “Valentine”, Karen and Ivan conjure up a sad love song evoking Depeche Mode synth lines juxtaposed with a Placebo style bass groove. “Valentine” will leave the listener wondering if it’s a song about loss and hope or moreover about death and forgiveness. Songs such as “Bad Taste” and “Into the Deep” tackle topics about unsavory stalkers, unreliable narrators, and blood thirsty sirens at sea. Who wants to start a fight in a motorcycle bar with leather jackets and fuzzed out bass? The last half of the EP is just for you, including their take on the Love and Rockets hit “No Big Deal”.
‘Good Intentions’ is releasing just a few months after BELLHEAD’s surprise stand alone single- a cover of Prince’s “I Would Die 4 U” which gained quick popularity taking a pop love song and spinning BELLHEAD’s dark twist to it. “I Would Die 4 U” earned 6,000+ Spotify plays in the first 30 days of release and has become a constant spin for DJ’s.
BELLHEAD spent 2022 touring alongside international and national touring artists Powerman 5000, Holy Wars, Then Comes Silence, The Bellwether Syndicate, Hate Dept, China Crisis, and Night Club. 2023 is even more explosive with touring plans to include two dates with legendary gothic acts Clan of Xymox and The Bellwether Syndicate as a warm up before heading back out on the road in May co-headlining nine dates with NYC’S coldwave artists, The Clay People. BELLHEAD ends the month of May as direct support for LA’s dark electronic duo, Night Club in Chicago.
BELLHEAD 2023 SPRING DATES
3/19 Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
3/23 Cactus Club – Milwaukee, WI w/ Clan of Xymox / The Bellwether Syndicate
4/15 The Ruin – Fort Wayne, IN w/ Vazum / Observer
4/21 Blockhouse Bar – Bloomington, IN w/ Pilgrims of Yearning / Freeze Etch
4/22 Mag Bar – Louisville, KY w/ Gentleman Pig / Star Guided Vessel / Village Elder
5/6 Livewire Lounge – Chicago, IL w/ The Clay People / Melter
5/7 Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI w/ The Clay People / Zombie Apocalypse / No Skull
5/8 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN w/ The Clay People / Broken Nails
5/9 The Foundry – Lakewood, OH w/ The Clay People / Bonded by Darkness / Temple Witch
5/10 The Runaway – Washington, DC w/ The Clay People / High Horse Cavalry / Raw Dawgs
5/11 Bar Freda – Queens, NY w/ The Clay People / The Amatory Murder / Chroma
5/12 Darq @ Koto – Salem, MA w/ The Clay People / Acheron
5/13 Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center – Harrisburg, PA w/ The Amatory Murder, Faux Fear, Goth Goth, Sugar Hysteria
5/14 Buzzbin – Akron, OH w/ Night Goat / Bonded By Darkness / Temple Witch
5/26 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL w/ Night Club / Iron Years / Plasmata
’Good Intentions’ can be purchased here : https://bellhead.bandcamp.com/album/good-intentions
By: Bass Magazine