Red Fang Keeps Things ‘Loose and Easy’ on New Album

The Portland, OR-based riff-heavy rock band Red Fang will return with its anticipated new album, Arrows, on June 4 via Relapse Records.

“It was so gratifying to put these songs on tape with [collaborator Chris] Funk!” says singer-guitarist Bryan Giles in a press release about the album that was produced by Funk (Murder The Mountains, Whales and Leeches). “It felt very comfortable with a loose schedule. We didn’t take it one song at a time, but added guitars, vocals or general weirdness whenever an idea sprang to mind. We busted out a hurdy gurdy! It was that fun. Long live Rock!!”

The band finished the album way back in December 2019, but the pandemic put its release on hold.

“Making this record felt totally loose and easy,” adds singer-bassist Aaron Beam. “It felt like we were just doing whatever the fuck we wanted, and not overthinking anything. That attitude reminded me a lot of what it felt like to make [2011’s] Murder the Mountains. The result doesn’t sound anything like MTM, but it has more of that vibe.”

Arrows, the band’s first collection in five years, arrives with a new chapter in the band’s canon of Whitey McConnaughy-directed music videos with “Arrows.” “Arrows” finds Red Fang once again exploring creative ways to spend the label’s money in a subtle nod to the band’s “Wires” video. The guys blow their budget on a sword and then find ways to show off its power.

“[McConnaughy’s] way of presenting us really works,” says guitarist David Sullivan of the band’s relationship with McConnaughy. “That first video he did for us for ‘Prehistoric Dog’ gave us a big jumpstart as far as the band getting popular. And we love working with him.”