One of the most influential melodic hardcore bands of our time, Strike Anywhere, has found a new home at Bridge Nine Records, as announced today by the label. Bridge Nine owner Chris Wrenn said, “We’re really excited about working with such an established and hard working band as Strike Anywhere. I’ve wanted to work with these guys for a long time, I have been a fan since their first EP and look forward to helping them continue to spread their music and message.” Strike Anywhere vocalist Thomas Barnett continued to say, “Bridge Nine has a cool combination of hardcore roots and culture, a love for the life and message. We felt immediately connected to it and understood upon talking with Chris and Karl. They get what we’ve been doing for the past nearly ten years, and seek to collaborate with us from a place of honesty: old roots, new friendship. The Bridge Nine commitment to the original platforms of hardcore and punk culture while trying to push it forward globally with creative ideas and unity feels like a perfect fit for us. We feel it’s important to note that we have nothing but love and good feelings for Fat Wreck Chords. Our four years with that label were great times and a singular experience, so we go forward with their blessing and good will. For us, we just wanted to try something different and give this record a new home, new vision.”

Formed in 1999 in Richmond, VA, Strike Anywhere has been a staple in the underground music scene since their inception. After their debut EP, Chorus of One, was released, Strike Anywhere teamed up with Jade Tree which issued Change Is a Sound in August 2001. The release of Exit English followed in 2003, and the rarities collection To Live in Discontent in January 2005. Strike Anywhere joined up with Fat Wreck Chords for their next full-length, the critically acclaimed Dead FM, released in June 2006 which saw the band touring the world numerous times over in support of the record. Strike Anywhere’s momentum at this point in their career is just as strong as ever.

Strike Anywhere will be in the studio beginning next week with renowned producer Brian McTernan and their Bridge Nine debut, Iron Front, is poised to be one of the label’s best releases of 2009. Thomas said of their new material, “there will be more of an expansion into both the melodic and heavier fast punk that are the foundations of our sound. Songs both global and personal, addressing topics such as borders, immigration, human rights, war, and the work left to be done in a Post-Bush America that still reveres corporate power and international empire. We have a few songs that deal further with issues of the earth, civilization and consciousness, punk songs about the apocalypse, and more events close to home inspiring a song about the limits of safety for the world outside of the gated suburbs, gun culture sickness, and police brutality. There is a song about grief and memory, art and immortality. We also have the happiest, party-while-you-protest song we have ever written. The sound of the record may be a bit heavier and more noisy, a part of our darker, less optimistic side than say the folk influences and street punk jangle of Dead FM. We have mad love for that record though, it’s just time for the Iron Front and a return to roots and physicality.”

Following their studio time, Strike Anywhere will head out across the US and Canada with Propagandhi throughout June, and the band will announce a special Fall tour in the coming months. Thomas said, “Touring new places is always the goal! Over the last three years, we made new friends and comrades in South America, Ireland, Finland, Latvia, Belarus, Moscow, Nova Scotia, the Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Greece. With all that touring we’ve also been experiencing one of the more wildly creative periods in our band’s lifespan, and have been writing non stop across four different cities, two time zones, fifteen Dead FM tours, a shit load of diverse and raging material. This record may be just the tip of that iceberg.” Expect Strike Anywhere’s upcoming Bridge Nine full-length to hit stores in September of 2009 and get ready to see the band all over the globe within the next year.

STRIKE ANYWHERE- ON TOUR WITH PROPAGANDHI

6/13 @ Champion Ship – Lemoyne PA

6/14 @ The Mad Hatter – Covington KY

6/16 @ Triple Rock Social Club- Minneapolis MN

6/17 @ Turner Hall- Milwaukee WI

6/18 @ Bottom Lounge- Chicago IL

6/19 @ Magic Stick- Detroit MI

6/20 @ TBA

6/22 @ Club Soda- Montreal QC

6/23 @ L’Anti- Quebec QC

6/24 @ Ritual- Ottawa ON

6/25 @ Phoenix Concert Theater- Toronto ON

6/26 @ TBA