I’ve written quite a bit about the Toronto-based punk trio and JOVM mainstays METZ over the years and if you’ve been frequenting this during that same period, you may recall that their third album, 2017’s Strange Peace found the band pushing their songwriting in new directions with their most personal and politically charged work to date — and while retaining the furious and blistering energy of their live sets, the material managed to capture the anxiety, uncertainty, fear and outrage that many of have felt over the past couple of years.
Earlier this year, Sub Pop Records released Automat, a collection of METZ’s non-album singles, B-sides and rarities dating back to 2009 on vinyl for the first time — including, the band’s long out-of-print (pre-Sub Pop) recordings. Essentially, the album is designed as a chronological trip through the acclaimed Canadian JOVM mainstays lesser-known material. Interestingly, the vinyl version of Automat included a bonus 7′ single of the band covering three very diverse songs, which will offer fans and listeners a glimpse into their wide-ranging tastes — a cover of Sparklehorse’s “Pig” off a very limited 2012 Record Store Day split single, originally released by Toronto-based record store, Sonic Boom; a cover of The Urinals‘ “I’m a Bug” originally released on YouTube in 2014′; and lastly, a previously unreleased cover of Gary Numan’s “M.E.” Today, the three bonus tracks were made available to all digital services. So with that in mind, check out METZ’s explosive, feedback-driven take on Gary Numan’s classic “M.E.”
Featuring a three-headed Pleasure Principle hydra illustrated by Kirin Booth and animation by Martin MacPherson, the recently released video for “M.E.” is a mesmerizing and hallucinogenic romp.
The Toronto-based JOVM mainstays are playing a handful of shows before they get to work on their fourth album — and it includes an October 19, 2019 appearance at Octfest at the Knockdown Center. Check out the rest of the tour dates below.
Tour dates:
Sep. 07 – Toronto, ON – Echo Beach (MATTYFEST w Wu Tang Clan)
Oct. 10 – Perris, CA – Desert Daze (w The Flaming Lips, Stereolab, Lightning Bolt)
Oct. 19 – Queens, NY – Octfest 2019, presented by Pitchfork and October, at Knockdown Center
Nov. 01 – London, ON – The Rec Room @
Dec. 02 – Glasgow, UK – The Barrowland Ballroom #
Dec. 03 – Glasgow, UK – The Barrowland Ballroom #
Dec. 04 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 1 #
Dec. 05 – Leeds, UK – O2 Academy Leeds #
Dec. 07 – London, UK – Alexandra Palace Theatre #
@ w/ Whoop-Szo
# w/ Idles
