Home Blog Spotlight

Spotlight On: New Model Army

Posted on Wednesday 1st November 2023 at 16:00

Jimi Arundell

Written by
Jimi Arundell

 

Politically charged Bradford-based band New Model Army were amongst the vanguard of the post-punk revolution, weaving folk influences and dark proto-goth rock loaded together with messages of spirituality and vitriolic missives.

Led by songwriter Justin Sullivan, their dark and atmospheric shadow looms large as their visceral sound and edgy experimental nature play a major influence on all who follow in their wake.

Next year sees the release of the brand new New Model Army album Unbroken. Released on the 26th January, the eagerly awaited record is promoted by an accompanying tour which sees headline dates in April and May of next year.

Tickets for their tour are released at 10:00 on Friday 3rd November with Gigantic Tickets - CLICK HERE to set your event reminder with Gigantic.

Also, it’s just been announced that you can catch New Model Army when they appear at Bearded Theory when it hits Catton Hall from Thursday 23rd -Sunday 26th May 2024. Tickets are on sale with Gigantic right now!

 

 

New Model Army first burst out of Bradford in 1980, thrilling fans with a savage sound as first heard on debut record Vengeance four years later. Singer and guitarist Justin Sullivan dared to tackle issues of American imperialism, alienation and suicide whilst sneering at patriotism and xenophobia. The title track would scream for the death penalty for the last vestiges of the Nazi regime who had slipped through the cracks, the drug pushers preying on working-class communities and industrial pollutants, establishing the band’s uncompromising reputation right from the start. It would be followed by their second record No Rest For The Wicked which smashed into the Top 40 in 1985.

They soon found that they were being embraced by the very establishment they hated, the next record The Ghost of Cain was named best album of the year for 1986 in The Times. This saw them switch to a folk-rock-centric sound, a massive sonic change that continues to this day. Continuing to court controversy despite breaking through into mainstream consciousness, they included instructions on how to build a nuclear weapon in the packaging of The Love of Hopeless Causes (1993).

Still led by Sullivan, New Model Army now consists of Dean White (keys, guitar), Michael Dean (drums) and Ceri Monger (bass). Despite refusing to be easily defined, their influence has been tremendous and can be heard in everything from goth to metal and folk-rock. Recently, the band celebrated its 40th anniversary playing to their dedicated fans known as The Family all around the world. Their latest LP Sinfonia saw them explore an edgy take on classical music with renowned violinist Shir-Ran Yinon and conductor Cornelius During.

Now, New Model Army prepare to unleash their 16th studio album Unbroken which drops next year. Unbroken promises all the ingredients you would expect from the uncompromising band plus a little bit extra and is mixed by the legendary Tchad Blake, the famed producer and engineer who has worked with such other greats as U2, Arctic Monkeys, Elvis Costello, The Pretenders and Pearl Jam.

“Full of guitars, searing vocals and with the emphasis on bass and drums which characterizes all our work, Unbroken sounds a lot like New Model Army, but different again.”

Don’t miss your chance to see New Model Army unleash Unbroken when they tour the new record with a spring 2024 tour. Tickets are released at 10:00 on Friday via Gigantic.

Plus, New Model Army will be making a major appearance at the premier festival Bearded Theory taking place on Thursday 23rd – Sunday 26th May 2024 on Bank Holiday weekend.

 

📆 Tour Dates:

Get your New Model Army tickets with Gigantic today!