MADBALL: East Coast Dates Announced

New York City hardcore masters MADBALL will embark on an East Coast headlining tour in December. Support on the trek will come from BITTER END and LIONHEART.

The dates are as follows:

Dec. 09 - Miami, FL @ The Vagabond
Dec. 10 - Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
Dec. 11 - Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
Dec. 12 - Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
Dec. 13 - Huntington, WV @ Shamrock’s
Dec. 14 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Altar Bar
Dec. 15 - Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
Dec. 16 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Barbary
Dec. 17 - Albany, NY @ Bogies
Dec. 18 - Providence, RI @ Jerky’s
Dec. 19 - New York, NY @ The Studio at Webster Hall

In other news, MADBALL will team up with the nation's largest college radio station — WSOU in South Orange, New Jersey — for a radio premiere of the band's new album, "Empire", in its entirety on the station's specialty show "Pirated Advance", this Friday, October 8 at 9 p.m. EST. The program will also include an interview with MADBALL vocalist Freddy Cricien and on-air giveaways of "Empire" to some lucky winners. If you reside in the tri-state area, you can pick up WSOU at 89.5 FM on your dial, or if you’re out of the area, stream the show at this location. Make sure to request songs by tweeting @WSOU, or call the request line at (973) 761-9768.

"Empire" will be released on October 12 via Good Fight Music. The CD was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer Erik Rutan, who has previously worked with MISERY INDEX, CANNIBAL CORPSE and GOATWHORE, among many others.

Regarding the new album's title, MADBALL vocalist Freddy Cricien previously stated, "MADBALL has come a long way from being street kids to becoming very established in our genre, and even beyond the music. We're finally at a point in our life where we're taking control of our things, whereas before we didn't have control of some things or didn't choose to have control. We have the feeling that we've built a little empire for ourselves with our band, brand, and different endeavors." He continued, "We get this reference that we're kings of New York."

"There are plenty of awesome bands that have come out of the city. AGNOSTIC FRONT are the godfathers of New York hardcore, SICK OF IT ALL are one of the undisputed champs of the scene... we were always known as more of the bad guys, but now people are calling us the kings. It's not a title we gave ourselves and it's not that we call ourselves that, but it's just a term of endearment and respect that people use and it plays into the name 'Empire'.

According to Cricien, fans of MADBALL should expect the sound that they have always loved, but some evolution as well. "There's a certain sound that we're known for, and as much as we want to evolve with the times, we also have to keep in mind that there's a certain standard and integrity with MADBALL, and we have to preserve that," he said. "Real-deal hardcore kids totally appreciate that. That said, the foundation always has to be a certain sound, but we always bring new elements into our sound. There has to be some evolution. It might appeal to people outside of the hardcore realm, but in the end, it's going to be a MADBALL record."