Photo by Brandynn Leigh
Canadian pop-punk mainstays Chief State have released their new single and video, “April Showers,” the latest preview of their forthcoming full-length album Keep Your Friends Closer, due out April 17 via Mutant League Records. The track captures the band at their most urgent and emotionally resonant, pairing high-energy momentum with the introspective lyricism that has defined their rise.
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Youth Fountain) and mastered by Stu McKillop at Rain City Recorders, Keep Your Friends Closer pushes Chief State’s sound forward while staying rooted in the grit, melody, and vulnerability that have earned them a global following. The album documents a period of major transition for the band, ultimately emerging as their most collaborative and personal work to date.
The band explains:
“The album that very nearly didn’t happen. In 2023/24 we found ourselves in a game of musical chairs with members moving on to new paths. When Joe and I were the last two standing, we had to decide whether to continue or call it a day — so we wrote a song. That was all it took to reignite everything. This record is ten years of grit and determination. It’s about getting back up when you’re knocked down, about friendship, hardship, betrayal, love, anger, isolation — life. Recording again with our longtime producer Tim Creviston felt like watching the full potential of Chief State come together. It’s our most authentic, most collaborative, and best work to date.”— Fraser, Nik, Joseph, Bran & James
Having spent years touring across North America and beyond while releasing a string of acclaimed records, Chief State continue to cement their place at the forefront of modern pop-punk. Keep Your Friends Closer finds the band louder, sharper, and more driven than ever.
The band will celebrate the album’s arrival with a hometown appearance supporting Wheatus on April 13 at The Pearl in Vancouver, where Wheatus will perform their self-titled debut in full.
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