Record Store Day is April 22nd this year. The pseudo holiday where we support local record stores by fighting to the death for deals and exclusive releases from our favorite bands.
This year, DC thrash legends, Darkest Hour, will participating for the first time with the release of a 7-inch. The EP will feature the song "Enter Oblivion" from their recently released album Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora, in addition to covers of Minor Threat's "I Don't Want to Hear It" and Judas Priest's "Painkiller".
Darkest Hour founding member and resident shredder Mike Schleibaum had the following to say about the upcoming Record Store Day release:
"It is with great pride we present to you our first Record Store Day release, which also happens to be our first 7-inch record in almost two decades! This 7-inch features two covers that we recorded before the launch of our Indiegogo campaign last year. Although the songs were released for free as part of a thank you to our loyal fans we felt they wouldn't get their justice served without some sort of physical release. In addition to the covers, this 7-inch also includes the song 'Enter Oblivion' from our new album, Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora. This song and 7-inch have a very special meaning for us.
"Having toured the world countless times at this point, we have seen the destructiveness and divisiveness that arises from nation states, borders, and immigration policies. These invisible, arbitrary lines that divide families, cultures, and humanity are archaic and obsolete. We believe that no human being is ever illegal just for existing. We believe that everyone regardless of race, religion, age, ethic heritage, sexual identification and sexual orientation should be treated with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves. A Darkest Hour show is a place where everyone is welcome, where individual thought is celebrated. We do not want a hive mind of loyal followers; we want a community of free-thinking individuals. It is in this spirit that we, in conjunction with Southern Lord Recordings, will donate all proceeds from this 7-inch record to the National Immigration Law Center. They are a non-profit who have been on the forefront of the fight to deliver services to those who find themselves caught in the middle of this outdated, feverishly demonic system.
"The song 'Enter Oblivion' centers on a traveler with no home and is, therefore the perfect choice for this 7-inch. Vinyl is our preferred way of enjoying music and the depth of these songs on wax is unparalleled in any other medium. If you can find this 7-inch before it sells out, get it! It will never be repressed and will always be a special part of our history. Cheers to Southern Lord Recordings for helping us make this unique record and also for echoing our thoughts. It is only together that we can turn the present tide of humanity towards the idea that we all share one world, together."