Belfast post-punk/electronic specialists Chalk share brooding new effort ‘Afraid’ (watch here), out today (January 15th – on DSPs 5pm following its BBC 6 Music Huw Stephens premiere), marking the second slice of material from the band’s ‘Conditions III’ EP, set for release February 21st via Nice Swan Records (English Teacher, Sprints, Opus Kink).
With a mammoth UK/IRE/EU tour lined up this spring (including a headliner at London’s Village Underground on March 6th), following an acclaimed tour support run with IDLES, Chalk’s thrilling evolution continues to gather pace. Fusing elements of heavy guitar music, electronica and breakbeat into a euphoric and frightening finished project, and recorded against the backdrop of bleak landscapes and Nordic vistas in remote northern Iceland, the group’s forthcoming ‘Conditions III’ ends the trilogy that launched their career, and positions them perfectly ahead of what promises to a monumental twelve months.
Previous winners of ‘Best Live Act’ at the NI Music Prize, the three-piece project of award winning musicians and filmmakers have sold-out countless headline shows across the UK and Europe, as well as festival appearances galore and impressive tour support for the likes of Sprints and PVA. With multiple appearances already on the BBC 6 Music playlist, the band have also earned plaudits throughout the press landscape (The Independent, NME, DIY, Dork, Rolling Stone UK, So Young, The New Cue, Rough Trade, Consequence of Sound, Paste), as their profile continues to soar.
Speaking ahead of their latest EP reveal, Chalk explained: “‘Afraid’ captures the raw fear and exhilaration of stepping into the unknown, a reminder that growth only happens when you leave your comfort zone. It’s a reflection on the strength it takes to move forward.”
Produced by Chris Ryan (NewDad, Enola Gay, Just Mustard) and Ross Cullen, Chalk’s ‘Afraid’ is out now via Nice Swan Records and available on all digital platforms.
Chalk is Ross Cullen (Vocals), Benedict Goddard (Guitar, Synth), Luke Niblock (Drums)
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Live Dates
27th Feb – King Tuts, Glasgow
28th Feb – Band on the Wall, Manchester
1st Mar – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
4th Mar – Bodega, Nottingham
6th Mar – Village Underground, Village
7th Mar – Strange Brew, Bristol
8th Mar – Concorde 2, Brighton
9th Mar – Heebie Jeebies, Liverpool
12th Mar – Paradiso, Amsterdam
13th Mar – Trix Bar, Brussels
14th Mar – La Lune des Pirates, Amiens
15th Mar – Maroquinerie, Paris
17th Mar – L’Astrolab, Orleans
18th Mar – Marché Gare, Lyon
20th Mar – Artteater, Cologne
21st Mar – Kantine am Berghain, Berlin
22nd Mar – Turmzimmer, Hamburg
26th Mar – Locomotiv, Bologna
27th Mar – Arci Bellezza, Milan
29th Mar – M4music Festival, Zurich
9th Apr – Ulster Sports, Belfast
10th Apr – Ulster Sports, Belfast
11th Apr – Ulster Sports, Belfast
12th Apr – Whelans, Dublin