Rarity Release New Album 'The Longest Lonesome' Today on New Damage Records

Today marks the official release of The Longest Lonesome, Hamilton-based rock act Rarity’s sophomore full-length album, out on New Damage Records. You can stream the new record in full via your preferred platform, and purchase it through the New Damage online store.

The Longest Lonesome follows previously released new singles, “Drown Me Out” and “A Numbness.” Working with producer Sam Guaiana (Silverstein, Story Untold), Rarity pull no punches on the 11-cut collection, which subsequently skews darker and heavier than their previous output to very welcome results. “It’s not a concept album, but every song is about and inspired by those same two years of our lives,” says drummer Evan Woods. “Really, it’s about coming together and conquering the things standing in our way.”

The music is still rooted in accessible, hook-laden melodies but with a sharper edge and more potent distillation of their various influences – from metal and hardcore to pop-punk, alternative, and much in between.

It’s easy to hear how songs like “Shawinigan” and “I’ll Come Around” would slay from the stage, epitomizing the band’s now-signature sonic collage by seamlessly swaying from delicate, intricate melodies to soaring choruses to hard-hitting breakdowns. “Drown Me Out” offers a masterclass in dynamics with subtle verses that explode into an unrelenting and unforgettable chorus – the musical equivalent of a Molotov cocktail floating silently through the air before the blinding flash when bottle meets brick.

The entire collection is anchored by the unparalleled intensity and conviction of singer Loeden Learn’s voice and lyrics, transcending the tribulations that inspired the album and making it abundantly clear that Rarity is here to stay.

“This is the strongest version of Rarity we’ve ever been,” Woods says in closing. “This experience and this album brought us out of the darkness and now, with all we’ve been through and the work we’ve put in, it feels like we’re invincible.”

SPECIAL RELEASE SHOWS

• 08.30 – Hamilton, ON @ Parking Lot/Alley

Livestreamed on Facebook via Rarity, New Damage Records & Sunrise Records at 9:30pm EST

• 08.31 – Toronto, ON @ Dine Alone/New Damage Records
• 09.01 – Ottawa, ON @ House Show
• See below for a full list of Rarity’s fall tour dates.
• 09.04 – Trenton, NJ @ Championship Bar
• 09,05 – Norfolk, VA @ Charlie's American Cafe
• 09.06 – Durham, NC @ Sophomore Slump Fest
• 09.08 – Charlotte, NC @ Skylark
• 09.09 - Huntington, WV @ The Marigold
• 09.10 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
• 10.02 – Richmond, VA @ Canal Club
• 10.03 – Vienna, VA @ Jammin Java
• 10.04 – Philadelphia, PA @ Voltage Lounge
• 10.05 – Amityville, NY @ Amityville Music Hall
• 10.06 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
• 10.08 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
• 10.09 – Lakewood, OH @ The Foundry
• 10.10 – Toronto, ON @ Hard Luck Bar
• 10.11 – Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Festival Grounds
• 10.12 – Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen
• 10.13 – Columbus, OH @ Big Room Bar
• 10.15 – Cincinnati, OH @ Top Cats
• 10.16 – Nashville, TN @ Aloft Nashville
• 10.17 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven)
• 10.19 – Orlando, FL @ Soundbar Orlando
• 10.20 – Margate, FL @ O'Malley's