NYC Noise Icons LIVE SKULL Rally Against US Far Right On ‘Freak Out! Jackpot’
NYC post-punk/experimental noise icons LIVE SKULL return today with steadfast new single ‘Freak Out! Jackpot’ set for release on 1st October 2026 via Bronson Recordings.
‘Freak Out! Jackpot’ taps into the lingering sense of dread in the US after watching Trump supporters viciously attack the capitol and gravely injure capitol police officers on January 6, 2021.
The opening salvo from their forthcoming new album, the new track is another tranche of outspoken jam-session post-punk from the quartet, aiming to politically engage and inspire fans to stay cool and fight back.
The song is meant to read like a news flash, “just breaking tonite” and “one final entry 11:44 AM”; and the second line basically says it all: “I don’t recognize my own country anymore!”
Commenting on the new track, front man Mark C says: “We never guessed that the chaos and devastation of the deranged hard right was just beginning.”
“Now I see my friends really losing it over the new administration’s callousness and extensive corruption, and the reduction of values to such a low level, where the unqualified take the highest positions, as long as they are loyal to one man. Everyone’s freaking out! Musically, we’re trying to talk them (and ourselves) back, to stay strong.”
“Musicians and artists need to make work now more than ever. The very act of creating is rebellious and motivates rebellion which is essential to responding to the fascist merging of corporate greed and government grift.”
The track is the latest to be taken from their fourth studio album since reforming, What Could Go Wrong?, which will be released on 13th November 2026 via Bronson Recordings.
The album was recorded and mixed by the band themselves at Deepsea—Mark C’s studio in Hoboken, NJ—the vintage factory building is Live Skull’s home base, where bands like Yo La Tengo and Sonic Youth have also based studios.
Reverberations of the early 20th century industrial landscape shine through in Live Skull’s very alive onslaught, reminiscent of the early grinding sound that grew out of Mark C.’s raw Noho loft space back in the day.
Lead single ‘Internal Combustion’ was released earlier this year to support from Spotify’s All New Rock, DORK Magazine, Classic Rock Magazine, Scene Point Blank and more, with further details, live dates, and new music TBA.