Lexi Becker March 31st, 2019 - 9:52 AM
The surviving members of The Fall, the legendary post-punk band, have formed a new band called Imperial Wax. They are set to release their debut album Gastwerk Sabotears’ on May 17 this year via Saustex Records. Currently, the band is touring the UK with plans to end up in the US in the near future.
Drummer Keiron Melling, bassist Dave “The Eagle” Spurr and guitarist Pete Greenway, all considered the core of The Fall, played for the band for 11 years. During this time they recorded six full-length studio albums and two EPs with Mark E Smith.
The founder of The Fall, Mark E Smith, is remembered as as prolific, singular presence and notorious taskmaster. He left behind 31 studio albums recorded for various independents. The Fall was an influential act that left its mark in the industry. Tragically, Smith passed away due to lung and kidney cancer in 2018.
After Smith passed, the band received multiple offers to continue to perform as The Fall with guest vocalists. Instead of moving on with this, they decided to create a new act as Imperial Wax. The name came in honor of the first album they recorded with Smith, Imperial Wax Solvent. For vocals, the group recruited fellow Northerner Sam Curran. He will perform as lead vocalist in addition to second guitarist. Soon after the formation they began making Gastwerk Saboteaurs’ with producer Mat Arnold. While reminiscent of The Fall, the album does its job at blazing a new trail. It still provides dense, noisy and atheistic in reference to genre, however, the approach is a little more melodic and punk in vibe.
The band signed with ATC-LIVE for their booking agency and have a rapidly expanding live schedule of shows and festivals in the UK including a sold-out debut show at London’s Troubadour. Imperial Wax is in a great position to join the list of great Manchester-bred acts.
Track List
- The Art of Projection
- Turncoat
- Saying Nothing
- Wax On
- Plant the Seed
- Barely Getting By
- Rammy Taxi Illuminati
- No Man’s Land
- Poison Ivy
- Wax Off
- More Fool Me
- Night Of The Meek
