Matt Mays Announces Upcoming Acoustic Album ‘Twice Upon a Hell of a Time...’

A year after the release of Once Upon a Hell of a Time..., Matt Mays returns with its acoustic companion piece, Twice Upon a Hell of a Time... The full re-imagining of the rock record is available via Sonic Records & Warner Music Canada on October 19, 2018.

The album's lead single, "Ola Volo," premiered this morning via CBC's q, and is now available to stream on digital platforms around the world. Click HERE to listen. The song, which swaps blistering guitars for breezy ukuleles and Hawaiian-inspired pedal steel in its newest formation, is inspired by a Vancouver-based mural artist of the same name who also created the original album art for both records.

Much like "Ola Volo," all the tracks on Twice Upon a Hell of a Time... are presented in stark, stripped-down contrast to its predecessors. "Once Upon a Hell of a Time... is a Saturday night record," says Matt. "This version is for the hangover on Sunday."

Recontextualizing the songs offers a new window into the lyrics. What he once described as a "party-rock record for the brokenhearted" transforms into a reflective and beautiful dive into false escapism, grief, love, and loss.

Available Friday, October 19, 2018

Sonic Records/Warner Music Canada

Vinyl/CD/Digital

01. Trust Life

02. Sentimental Sins

03. Faint Of Heart

04. Drive On

05. Howl At The Night

06. NYC Girls

07. Dark Promises

08. Perfectly Wasted

09. Drunken Angels

10. Ola Volo

11. 78s 33s 45s

12. Station Out Of Range

13. Never Say Never

The recording sessions for Twice Upon a Hell of a Time... came amidst a particularly busy time for Matt Mays. During a period in which he headlined his first Massey Hall concert and supported sold-out shows with The Gaslight Anthem all over North America, Matt teamed up with co-producer Eric Ratz to record at studios around Toronto between touring commitments.