Canadian pop-punk mainstays Chief State return with “April Showers,” a driving new single and video previewing their forthcoming full-length album ‘Keep Your Friends Closer,’ out April 17 via Mutant League Records. The track moves with urgency, fusing melodic punch with reflective songwriting that has defined the band’s rise across North America and beyond.
Produced, engineered and mixed by Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Youth Fountain) and mastered by Stu McKillop at Rain City Recorders, the album captures a band in motion. The sound is tighter and more expansive, grounded in grit and vulnerability while pushing into bolder territory. The momentum is undeniable. This is Chief State stepping forward with force.
“The album that very nearly didn’t happen. In 2023/24 we found ourselves in a game of musical chairs with members moving on to new paths. When Joe and I were the last two standing, we had to decide whether to continue or call it a day – so we wrote a song. That was all it took to reignite everything. This record is ten years of grit and determination. It’s about getting back up when you’re knocked down, about friendship, hardship, betrayal, love, anger, isolation – life. Recording again with our longtime producer Tim Creviston felt like watching the full potential of Chief State come together. It’s our most authentic, most collaborative, and best work to date.” – Fraser, Nik, Joseph, Bran and James
After years of relentless touring and acclaimed releases, Chief State continue to solidify their place at the forefront of modern pop-punk. The band will celebrate the album’s arrival with a hometown appearance supporting Wheatus on April 13 at The Pearl in Vancouver, where Wheatus will perform their self-titled debut in full.