| MILWAUKEE’S VILE BEES DROP FIRST RELEASE IN FOUR YEARS – ‘JOY COUGHS’ EP. OUT NOW. |
| Following the tour-dates on the Midwest, the punk-rock/noise-rock trio is happy to present their newest work, the sophomore collection of songs available from now via Seismic Wave Entertainment. |
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| Download HQ album cover here. |
| Release: June 4, 2025 Genres: Punk-rock,post-punk Format: DR,LP FFO: Hüsker Dü, Libertines Label: Seismic Wave Entertainment |
| [A Private Soundcloud] |
| Track-list: 1. Anime Bodies 2. Eyes Meet at the Liquor Store 3. Hot Probs 4. Marky Moon 5. Mascot Carries Own Head 6. Swirl The Numbers 7. No Blues 8. Salt Lick City 9. Fire to a Kid 10. Relaxo 11. Shapes 12. Use Yr Allusion |
| Milwaukee’s Vile Bees return with ‘Joy Coughs,’ their most dynamic and emotionally resonant work to date. Slated for release in June 4 via Seismic Wave Entertainment, ‘Joy Coughs’ finds the band at their sharpest—melding propulsive punk energy with introspective storytelling that navigates themes of intergenerational trauma, loss, and the echoes of addiction. Formed in 2015 after the dissolution of Like Like the the the Death, Vile Bees—Michael Marchant (guitar, vocals), Kyle Scheuer (bass, vocals), and Dan Hanke (drums)—have spent years refining their sound, cutting their teeth in the Midwest’s DIY circuit. Their 2018 debut EP, ‘Come Here Young Man,’ introduced a lo-fi immediacy, while 2021’s ‘Dark Age Dad’ marked an evolution in both songwriting and production. But the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic forced the band into a 15-month hiatus, leaving Dark Age Dad largely unheard. Rather than let stagnation set in, Michael Marchant immersed himself in home recording, teaching himself the ropes of engineering while stockpiling demos in his basement. “I bought a laptop, a few microphones, and a recording interface and started writing with the intention of having something to work on once we could be in the same room again,” he recalls. The result? A raw, unfiltered collection of songs that would later take shape as ‘Joy Coughs’—a record as urgent as it is personal. With ‘Joy Coughs,’ Vile Bees embrace the full weight of their experiences, delivering their most refined yet visceral collection of songs to date. “This album has a running theme of intergenerational trauma, loss, and empathy,” says Michael. “Witnessing parental drug and alcohol addiction through the eyes of a child. Being freaked out by the people who are supposed to keep you safe. Becoming a parent to your parents.” Despite the heavy subject matter, Michael insists the songs remain accessible: “I think I managed to avoid making them too dour or unapproachable. Some are even funny, and I’m very proud of that.” |
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| Photo courtesy of Vile Bees. Download here. |
| Leading the charge is the album’s first single, ‘Anime Bodies’—a song that lyrically deals with a common theme of ‘Joy Coughs’—the loss of loved ones to drug and alcohol abuse. Michael explains: “It’s a reflection of a promising past and a reckoning with a dire present that could not be course-corrected. It’s confrontational empathy wrapped in the guise of hooky guitar pop.” ‘Joy Coughs’ marks the first Vile Bees release under the banner of Seismic Wave Entertainment, owned and operated by Conan Neutron. ‘Joy Coughs’ is a testament to resilience—born from isolation, sharpened on stage, and delivered with an unrelenting passion that defines the band’s sound. |
| Vile Bees are stepping forward, not just as punk stalwarts, but as storytellers unafraid to confront the past while charging headfirst into the future. ‘Joy Coughs’ EP is available from now on here here. |
| PROMO MATERIALS: |
| VILE BEES – JOY COUGHS – DOWNLOADABLE HQ COVER VILE BEES – JOY COUGHS – DOWNLOADABLE PRESS-SHOTS VILE BEES – JOY COUGHS – DOWNLOADABLE AUDIO |