New Jersey/Philly sludge beasts Clamfight are prepared to self-release their eponymous fourth full-length album release this Spring, unveiling the cover art, track listing, preorders, and lead single, “The Oar”.
The members of Clamfight are childhood friends who played their first show together in the Fall of 2005. The band’s lineup has remained the same ever since, with bassist Louis Koble, guitarists Joel Harris and Sean McKee, and drummer/vocalist Andy Martin. Over the past twenty years, the band has played shows along the entire East Coast and beyond, having shared a lot of laughs and shenanigans as well as loss and heartache together along the way. Having released three albums to date – “Vol. I” in 2010, “I vs. The Glacier” in 2013, and “III” in 2018 – the band now presents their most somber yet victorious record yet with “Clamfight”.
Clamfight began work on album number four right as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. With only drum tracks finished the weekend before the lockdowns began, the sudden downtime gave the band the opportunity to broaden their sound. With their longtime friend, mentor, and producer Steve Poponi, the band expanded the sonic range of the new material and brought more dynamics and intricacy to the seven new songs.
The pandemic also changed the record lyrically and thematically. Lyrically, Clamfight became a sort of diary or memoir, but not about masks and temperature checks at the grocery store, but about how the love and friendship between the band helped get them all through those dark times. If there’s a central theme to Clamfight it’s that life is short and precious, but that the people around you – the people that you love and that love you back – are the ones that make it worth savoring.
Now, “Clamfight” is ready to see the light of the day. “To us, this is easily the most personal and important record that we’ve ever done. It was part of why we wanted to self-release it. We didn’t want to be beholden to anyone else on this one, and we wanted to push it as much or as little as we pleased without feeling like we were letting anyone down. We’ve got all the respect for Argonauta and some of the other folks we talked to about this one, but for a record that was so personal going at it alone felt right”.
“Clamfight” was recorded by Steve Poponi and Matt Weber at The Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, New Jersey where it was also mixed by Steve Poponi and Dave Downham and mastered by Dave Downham, and the album’s cover art and layout was handled by Morgan E Russell. The record features guest vocals on “Brodgar” by Sam Marandola and on “Clamfight” by Stephen Murphy and JJ Koczan.
The lead single from “Clamfight” arrives with the album’s opening track, “The Oar”. Andy Martin reveals with the song: “In making this record we leaned on each other and our collaborators more than ever before. I never write lyrics until we’re in the studio, and as recording was happening, I found myself writing about where we were in our lives, the people we loved, the mistakes we made, and about how much I love these guys, so when it came time to name the record, the choice was obvious. This is the last record we were privileged to make with our brother Steve Poponi. You’ll hear him at the end of the track. Words fall short when it comes to expressing how much we miss him, so for and now always, we’ll just say Poponi Forever. Take care of yourselves gang”.
Stream “The Oar”, Clamfight’s lead single from the powerful new srudio album, “Clamfight”, now playing here.
The band will self-release “Clamfight” digitally and on CD on May 16th, 2025. Preorders are now live at Bandcamp here.
Tracklist:
1. The Oar
2. Brodgar
3. Dragonhead
4. FRH
5. Drinking Tooth
6. Clamfight
7. Redtail
Clamfight is also booking regional tour dates and live events supporting the new album. They will play Brooklyn on June 20th and a benefit show for their late friend Steve Poponi in Philadelphia on June 21st. A record release show and additional dates are also in the works. Watch for updates to post alongside additional previews of the album over the weeks ahead.
US Live Shows 2025:
5/31/2025 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA*
6/20/2025 Goldsounds – Brooklyn, NY**
6/21/2025 Poponipalooza ’25: D.I.L.F.@ Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA [tickets]
* (record release show)
** (w/ Hollow Leg, Florist, End Of Hope)
Line-up:
Louis Koble – Bass
Joel Harris – Guitar
Sean McKee – Guitar
Andy Martin – Drums/vocals
