We’ve been excited about new East of the Wall music since… well, pretty much since several MS staffers enjoyed their last album Ressentiment so much that they named it as one of their favorite records of 2010. That excitement continued as news of a brand new album began to bubble up earlier this year and culminates right now in the form of our very first musical taste of what said new album, The Apologist, has in store.

In short, The Apologist is the same but different; the same wonky, jazzy, proggy via post-hardcore East of the Wall-isms that made Ressentiment (and its predecessor Farmer’s Almanac) so endearing, but done in new ways, evolved to the next level, more ambitious. Which is exactly what you want from a new album by a favorite band of yours; to do the same thing all over again would just be boring. One thing that immediately jumps out as different from Ressentiment is the rawer, more organic production quality, courtesy producer Andrew Schneider, renowned for his work with Cave In, Pelican, Keelhaul, Rosetta and many others. Ressentiment was actually recorded as a different band featuring mostly the same members (the now defunct Biclops) so perhaps the change in sonic aesthetic is a reaction to that; either way, worry not, for it still sounds fucking phenomenal and all the instruments are crystal clear in the mix.

Stream “Whiskey Sipper” from The Apologist below. The album comes out on October 25th and is available for pre-order now on both vinyl and CD (with slightly different cover artwork… so get both!!). East of the Wall will be on tour in October and November with an assortment of merry gentlemen, including Tidal Arms, Iron Thrones, Meek is Murder, Goes Cube and White Arms of Athena on various dates. See when they’re coming to your town after the jump.

[this streaming promotion has ended]

Tour Dates:
Oct 21 – Asbury Park, NJ @ The Saint (RECORD RELEASE SHOW) w/ Abacinate, The Ghost In Black And White
Oct 22 – Brooklyn, NY @ TBA (RECORD RELEASE SHOW) w/ Dysrhythmia, Meek Is Murder
Oct 24 – Fords, NJ @ Vintage Vinyl (RECORD RELEASE SHOW)
Oct 25 – Pittsburg, PA @ Gooski’s w/ Tidal Arms
Oct 26 – Akron, OH @ TBA w/ Tidal Arms
Oct 27 – ***Booking help needed*** Indianapolis/Fort Wayne, IN w/ Tidal Arms
Oct 28 – ***Booking help needed*** Chicago, IL w/ Tidal Arms
Oct 29 – ***Booking help needed*** Iowa City, IA or Milwaukee, WI w/ Iron Thrones
Oct 30 – Minneapolis, MN @ TBA w/ Iron Thrones
Oct 31 – Fargo, ND @ The New Direction w/ Iron Thrones
Nov 01 – ***Booking help needed*** Sioux Falls, SD
Nov 02 – Lincoln, NE @ The Bourbon Theater w/ Masses
Nov 03 – Denver, CO @ Old Curtis Street Bar w/ Goes Cube, Adai, Iron Horse
Nov 04 – Rock Springs, WY @ TBA w/ Goes Cube
Nov 05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge w/ Goes Cube, I Am The Ocean
Nov 06 – Reno, NV @ Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor w/ Goes Cube
Nov 07 – ***Booking help needed*** San Francisco, CA w/ Goes Cube
Nov 08 – Capistrano Beach, CA @ Coconuts w/ Black Sheep Wall, White Arms Of Athena
Nov 09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Vacation Vinyl (early show)
Nov 09 – Los Angeles, CA @ Three Clubs w/ Black Sheep Wall, White Arms Of Athena
Nov 10 – Phoenix, AZ @ TBA w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 11 – ***Booking help needed*** Albuquerque/Santa Fe, NM w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 12 – ***Booking help needed*** Amarillo/Lubbock, TX w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 13 – Dallas, TX @ The Door w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 14 – Little Rock, AK @ TBA w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 15 – Hattiesburg, MS @ TBA w/ White Arms Of Athena
Nov 16 – ***Booking help needed*** New Orleans, LA or Pensacola, FL or Birmingham, AL
Nov 17 – Tallahasse, FL @ The Farside w/ Dickicker
Nov 18 – Fort Myers, FL @ Cool Hand Luc’s w/ Dickicker
Nov 19 – ***Booking help needed*** Orlando/Gainesville/Lakeland/Jacksonville w/ Dickicker
Nov 20 – Savannah, GA @ Club 2 Ten w/ Meek Is Murder, Howler, Indian Giver
Nov 21 – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone w/ Meek Is Murder, Mr. Invisible
Nov 22 – Richmond, VA @ TBA w/ Meek Is Murder