StrateJacket Embraces Their "Bad Start" with Chant-Ready Fight Song “End of Time” Out Today

ULY 19, 2024 [Los Angeles, CA] — Northern California’s favorite alt-rock/pop punk trio StrateJacket are thrilled to share that their debut album, Bad Start, will be released on October 11, 2024 via EDGEOUT. In addition, the band has released a propulsive new single “End of Time” (out today). The album announcement comes on the heels of the band’s newly released self-titled EP (StrateJacket) and ahead of the band’s performances in Davenport, IA on July 20th; in Omaha, NE (opening for The Offspring) on July 23rd; in Denver, CO on July 26th; and in Phoenix, AZ on July 28th.

The new single was originally fashioned to showcase solos for each band member – Jackson Roemers (lead vocals/guitar, 24), Fabian Angel (vocals/bass, 23) and Nate Mangold (drums, 22) – to take their own solos, like The Who on “My Generation,” and add “Hey! Hey! Hey” refrains to the song. “The fun part about being a new band making an album is that you get to come in with a wide-eyed view and so many ideas,” the band says excitedly. “As a big fan of The Who, I really wanted a “My Generation” structure for a song. We had these stop-and-go verses and a dueling banjos solo section for the bridge. We thought ‘how cool. Who’s doing that these days?’”

Bad Start tracklist:
(artwork TBD)
1. Bad Start
2. Be My Drug
3. End of Time
4. Living A Lie
5. Cut The Cord
6. Dreamcatcher
7. Torch
8. Watched You Go
9. Are You Tired Of Me?
10. Too Much
11. Just Like You

The band’s debut album (Bad Start) features singles like the shout-at-the-heavens title track “Bad Start” (originally featured on EA Sports’ NHL24 Soundtrack in tandem with NHL24’s Playlist last year), the ultra-melodic “Be My Drug,” and the newly released chant-ready fight song “End of Time,” all of which overflow with dark humor and contain the sort of electric energy that has hyper-charged the Bay Area’s punk and alternative scenes for decades. Elsewhere on the album, there’s the laid-back melody of “Torch,” which Roemers calls “the black sheep of the record,” since it’s the most straightforward rock song, a melodic pop rock track (“Watched You Go“) that’s partly inspired by Velvet Underground, the dynamic “Dreamcatcher” featuring a killer bass line by Angel, and the tumultuous “Living a Lie.” The slashing “Cut the Cord” features personal lyrics written by Mangold- which he jokingly calls “a high school heartbroken love story,” but admits it’s based on actual experiences. Rounding out the last three tracks of the album is the band’s grungiest song (“Are You Tired of Me?”), a track featuring shimmery nu-wave pianos (“Too Much”) and an acoustic guitar-driven ballad (“Just Like You”), which represents the final acceptance that this album isn’t what it set out to be, which the band realizes is not a bad thing.

As Bad Start shows, StrateJacket is proud to be a rock band. “When people hear the album, I hope they feel a little nostalgic,” Angel says. “Even though the music scene right now is dominated by pop, rock & roll is still alive! I want our listeners to feel like kids with guitars and basses in their bedrooms and not alone. I want them to know that little bands still want to be big bands.”

Tour dates:
July 20 – Davenport, IA @ Raccoon Motel
July 23 – Omaha, NE @ KIWR Summer Bash Festival
July 26 – Denver, CO @ Goosetown Tavern
July 28 – Phoenix, AZ @ Valley Bar
August 23 – Cupertino, CA @ The X Bar
October 10 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock Festival

StrateJacket’s journey to Bad Start has been marked by unwavering determination, even during the darkest days of the pandemic lockdown. They persevered, unsure when they’d play another gig, let alone secure a record deal or make an album. Yet, they maintained optimism and hope, overcoming every obstacle. Their resilience has seen them grow from humble Bay Area venues to playing at prestigious festivals like SXSW and Welcome to Rockville in 2024. They are set to play even more festivals across the US this year, such as Omaha’s KIWR’s Summer Bash in July and Sacramento’s Aftershock Festival in October. Looking back at StrateJacket’s origins, it’s clear they didn’t get such a bad start after all.

StrateJacket recorded the album at Vancouver’s Armoury Studios in November of 2022. They worked with the Juno/BMI-winning Canadian producer/songwriter Brian Howes (Hinder, Skillet, Boys Like Girls) to bring their vision to life. The band also secured Grammy® winning Chris Lord-Alge (Green Day, Muse, Prince) to mix the tunes, ensuring a high-quality sound that matches their musical ambitions.

StrateJacket’s debut album – Bad Start – will be released on October 11, 2024 via EDGEOUT/UMG/UMe. The band’s new single (“End of Time”) is out today.