COMMON WOUNDS - All Night Blood

COMMON WOUNDS: post-hardcore powerhouse announces new album "All Night Blood"; first single "Broken Hands" streaming now

From Phoenix, Arizona, Common Wounds announces the October 18th release of its new full-length album, All Night Blood.

Stream the music video for the first single, "Broken Hands," here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d0epIljXFg

Pre-order the album (vinyl and digital), here: https://allnightblood.com/

Consisting of three Phoenix lifers and a San Jose transplant, Common Wounds delivers soul-stirring, bone-rumbling post-hardcore that draws upon decades of personal highs and lows.

Vocalist Ian Lanspeary states: "The title All Night Blood relates to the idea that the society and economic system we live in is unrelenting in what it takes from us to survive; as though we’re being constantly bled dry to live our lives." Each of the nine songs on the album grapples with the realities of existence within this order. Some songs are messages of hope, some are admissions of hopelessness. 

First single "Broken Hands" represents the latter. "The song is about how people in positions of power attempt to manipulate others to the point where they start to question themselves," says Lanspeary.

"Broken Hands" is built on a tense, spiraling 6/4 groove that bursts open into a cathartic chorus. Reference points include Jawbox, Unwound, and Young Widows. The passion of the vocals is palpable; Lanspeary's words hit percussively yet each one is backed by a tidal surge of emotion. Recorded by Zachary Rippy (Power Trip, Wristmeetrazor), mixed by Scott Evans (Thrice, Samiam), and mastered by Carl Saff (Modern Life Is War, KEN mode), the sound is warm and heavy.

A united force, the band churns ahead, not like four musicians, but like one freight train. In this sense, lines can be drawn from Common Wounds to the noise rock scene. The sheer weight of Common Wounds' sound connects the band to some of the bruisers on the more melodic end of the AmRep spectrum – the likes of Chokebore and Helmet. But sonic impact aside, Common Wounds' sincere and forthright spirit shines in a way that points undeniably to its roots: "Our prime background is hardcore and we are still driven by the ethos and passion of hardcore," states bassist Matt Martinez.

Martinez' involvement in the Phoenix underground goes back to the 1990s when his band Suicide Nation was playing DIY venues with the likes of The Locust and releasing splits with Yaphet Kotto and Creation Is Crucifixion. From there, he founded Landmine Marathon, a death metal unit that broke out of the Arizona scene, toured the world, and landed on the cover of Revolver Magazine. Lanspeary notably played guitar in Phoenix hardcore favorites Run with the Hunted.

Martinez muses on his hometown: "Right now, in Phoenix in the midst of summer, I have to dwell on the oppressive, almost inescapable heat. The summer months become consuming and isolating, or cause for escape. We try to lay low and enjoy the privilege of air conditioning. I always lean on the belief that the heat builds negativity and tension and it is reflected in the aggressive music that we see. That being said, Arizona music is thriving. I see newer and newer generations creating and carving their own paths, while some of the Arizona music 'veterans' continue to deliver refreshing music. We have so many excellent bands and people trying to make things happen."

One such Arizona veteran continuing to deliver is Brendan DeSmet, former vocalist of Tucson's Groundwork and current owner of record label Protagonist Music. Common Wounds' All Night Blood is Protagonist's 100th release in a wonderfully diverse catalog that includes gems from Gatecreeper, Leaving, Bleached Cross, Sexless Marriage, Hundreds of Au, Self Defense Family, and more. Protagonist also released Common Wounds 2023 debut EP, which earned these words from Decibel Magazine: "Pointed and burly, pulsing with the honesty of emotional hardcore and the swagger of noise rock."

Tracklist:
1) Cognition
2) Broken Hands
3) Vainglory
4) Mile Marker
5) All Night Blood
6) Parochial
7) Lost Voices
8) So It Goes
9) The Diplomat

Lineup:
Ian Lanspeary - guitar, vocals
Corey Rial - guitar
Matt Martinez - bass
Steven Campbell - drums

Discography:
Common Wounds EP (2023, Protagonist Music)
All Night Blood (2024, Protagonist Music)

Photo by Kindness Photo Co
Cover art by Matt Martinez