Austin garage rock band Heartless Bastards have recently signed to Partisan Records according to a recent press release sent out by the indie label. The Brooklyn-based label is already home to bands such as Deer Tick, Delorean and Middle Brother among many others, and Heartless Bastards’ newest album Arrow is due to be released on February 14 2012.

Arrow was produced by Spoon drummer and co-producer Jim Eno at his Public Hi Fi home studio in Austin. The album is the followup to 2009’s deeply introspective The Mountain. Singer/guitarist/songwriter Erika Wennerstrom’s moving voice is accompanied by an expanded line-up that now includes guitarist Mark Nathan added to the roster of original bassist Jesse Ebagh and drummer Dave Colvin.

“The Mountain was me going through some things after being in a relationship for nine years,” Wennerstrom says in a recent press release.  “This album is kind of like me being comfortable again.”

Wennerstrom took several solo road trips in 2010 to develop her songwriting skills and visit family before recording Arrow. She says she is pleased with added dynamics Nathan adds to the band as well her personal growth as an artist.

“I feel like this is the strongest record I’ve ever done,” Wennerstrom says.  “I feel like playing with these guys, us all being so connected, really helped make it so fully realized.  I’m really, really happy with it.”