Chicago’s Sleepwalk have shared a new single and video, ‘Shell’, taken from their fourth album, ‘View From The Outside’, which arrives November 13 through MNRK Heavy.

The song finds singer and guitarist Ryan Davis looking at how he’s become more withdrawn as he’s got older, despite still wanting to be around people. It’s a subject he talks about with little attempt to dress it up. “‘Shell’ is about how I’ve sort of closed off as I’ve gotten older. Discomfort being around people even though I do want to be around people. Insecurity, social anxiety, emotional distance, etc. Typical sad boi bullshit,” Davis explains.

We’ve already heard two quite different sides of the new record. ‘Sandbox’ dealt with Davis’s frustrations over conspiracy theories and politics, while ‘Jan 22’ came from a snowy walk home from band practice and his affection for winter in Chicago. ‘Shell’ returns to the heavier guitars, with a more personal concern at its centre. ‘View From The Outside’ was recorded over twelve days at Earth Analog in Tolono, Illinois, the studio belonging to Hum’s Matt Talbott. Zac Montez, who worked on Sleepwalk’s ‘Underneath The Shade’, returned to produce the new album.

The band, completed by guitarist Tyler Gargula, bassist Vic Ordonez and drummer Marcus Johnson, begin their US tour at Chicago’s Sleeping Village on November 12, followed by Philadelphia on November 18 and Brooklyn on November 19. Further dates in Texas and California follow in December.

Photo: Max Rubin

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