Photo by John Pope
Spotlights celebrate the April 28 release of their new album, Alchemy For The Dead (Ipecac Recordings), with “Discerning Alchemy,” a short film directed by award-winning documentarian John Pope (“Blood Brother,” “Almost Holy”). The film explores life as an independent artist, through the process of recording the nine-song album and the band’s DIY philosophy.
“In early 2022, John [Pope] approached us when we were opening for Cave In in Pittsburgh, with the idea of filming a ‘making of’ video,” explains Mario Quintero. “At the time, we weren’t really sure about having someone in our space while recording. Usually that process is very personal to us, and on top of that, our studio is tiny! But once we saw John’s work, and got a chance to sit down and hear his vision, we were 100% in. He’s an absolute master of his craft, and by himself, created a piece that we believe truly shows who we are as a band and as people, while also capturing our process. We’re so excited for people to see it! It’s a perfect companion to the album.”
Debuting exclusively via Bandcamp, attendees will also be the first to hear the new album, with a truly live livestream following the film’s initial screening. Mario, Sarah Quintero and Chris Enriquez will be on hand, answering questions from fans in real time.
Tickets are $3 and available here. The film is available to replay for 48 hours following the April 23 (12 noon pacific/3 pm eastern) debut.
Spotlights return to the road on April 26, kicking off their U.S. tour at Pittsburgh’s Club Café. The two-month trek also includes a stint on Ipecac’s Geek Show tour, joining labelmates Mr. Bungle and the Melvins from May 10 to May 24.
Two tracks from Alchemy From The Dead have been released in advance of the upcoming release: “Sunset Burial” (https://youtu.be/vBxPz6nnthw), a song Revolver described as “eerie, epic, and throttling,” as well as “Algorithmic” (https://youtu.be/19TqHZBUOgY). Consequence said of the debut single: “The thick tones and melodic vocals invoke Nine Inch Nails and the densely mixed recordings of Failure, melding elements of industrial, sludge metal, and dark alt-rock.”
Spotlights recently released the Seance EP, a five-song digital release featuring “Algorithmic” and “Sunset Burial” with three non-album bonus tracks: “Unalive,” “Should Time Stand Still” and “Your Morning Kill.”
Album pre-orders, which include two 2LP vinyl variants: a standard black version and a limited-edition gold edition available exclusively via Ipecac.com and on the band’s upcoming Alchemy For The Dead tour, can be found here: https://spotlights.lnk.to/AFTD. Vinyl is slated for an Aug. 4 release.
Alchemy For The Dead tour:
April 26 Pittsburgh, PA Club Café
April 27 Grand Rapids, MI Pyramid Scheme
April 28 Chicago, IL Subterranean Downstairs
April 29 Tolono, IL Loose Cobra
April 30 St. Louis, MO Red Flag
May 1 Kansas City, MO Mini Bar
May 3 Denver, CO Hi Dive
May 4 Salt Lake City, UT Kilby Court
May 6 Sacramento, CA Club Colonial
May 7 San Francisco, CA Winters Tavern
May 10 Pomona, CA Fox Theater *
May 11 Los Angeles, CA Hollywood Palladium*
May 12 San Diego, CA Tower Bar
May 14 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues*
May 16 Denver, CO Mission Ballroom*
May 17 Salt Lake City, UT Union Event Center*
May 19 Seattle, WA Showbox*
May 20 Seattle, WA Showbox*
May 21 Portland, OR Crystal Ballroom*
May 23 Oakland, CA Fox Theater*
May 24 Oakland, CA Fox Theater*
May 27 Denton, TX Andy’s Bar
May 28 Austin, TX Hotel Vegas
May 30 Tulsa, OK Whittier Bar
May 31 Shreveport, LA Bear’s
June 1 Little Rock, AR Mutants Fest
June 2 Nashville, TN Drkmttr
June 3 Atlanta, GA The Earl
June 4 Gainesville, FL The Backyard
June 9 Miami, FL Gramp’s
June 10 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
June 11 Orlando, FL Will’s Pub
June 12 Jacksonville, FL Jack Rabbits
June 13 Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern
June 14 Charlotte, NC Snug Harbor
June 15 Asheville, NC Asheville Music Hall **
June 16 Knoxville, TN The Pilot Light
June 17 Louisville, KY Kaiju Bar
June 18 Columbus, OH Big Room Bar
June 21 Harrisonburg, VA The Golden Pony
June 22 Baltimore, MD Metro Gallery
June 23 Philadelphia, PA Ortlieb’s
June 24 Brooklyn, NY Saint Vitus
*-Ipecac Geek Show performances
**-with Yob and Pallbearer
Birdhands open on dates between April 27 to May 1. Rile open from May 3 to May 6. Dates between May 11 and 24 are the Ipecac Geek Show with labelmates Mr. Bungle and the Melvins.
Spotlights is Mario Quintero (guitar, vocals, keys), Sarah Quintero (bass, vocals) and Chris Enriquez (drums). The band has released three albums to date: Tidals (2016), Seismic (2018) and Love & Decay (2019). Consequence praised their “unique amalgam of sounds that is both heavy and heavenly,” Brooklyn Vegan said Spotlights “balances the pretty with metallic sludge,” and Invisible Oranges said they thrive “on the ambient and krautrock inspired edges of post-metal.” In the wake of their 2020 EP We Are All Atomic, Kerrang! observed, “That a band as heavy and romantic as Spotlights have become a fixture in the rock scene Is impressive; that they’ve done it in such a short period of time is tremendous.”
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