Clay J Gladstone announces new album “Is This How I Die?”, shares new single “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?

Sydney-based sad party punkers Clay J Gladstone share news of their debut album “Is This How I Die?” out Friday, November 1 via Def Wolf Records. The lads pair the long-awaited announcement with new single “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” and get set to tour across Australia supporting Sienna Skies in November. Listen to the song below.

“Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” joins singles “Postmodern Teenage Angst“, “Death By Idle Hands” and “Talk Of The Town” on the “Is This How I Die?‘“tracklist. Continuing a theme of manic yet vulnerable lyricism, “Why Does Everybody Hate Me?” is a personal track for vocalist Tim Wisbey, juxtaposing scenes between the pub after midnight and the regretful morning after. “The lyric ‘I lost control when I fell for you’ could easily be mistaken for a tragic heartbreak lyric,” tells Wisbey. “It’s not. It’s my love letter to every night I’ve sat my ass in a dirty bar past the stroke of 12. Only to wake up the next morning sweating over the thought that everybody now hates me.”

Coined Corey Taylor‘s ‘New Fkn Favourite Band’ on a tour last December, Clay J Gladstone teamed up with ARIA award-nominated producer Shane Edwards (The Libertines, Trophy Eyes, You Me At Six) on their collection of new tunes. The album thematically explores the concept of mortality. “After my father’s death when I was 19, I developed serious anxiety and panic attacks, which I later recognised as a response to my own extreme fear of death and the unknown,” explains Wisbey. “This album chronicles my process to accept and cope with my father’s passing. Documenting emotions, situations and problematic thoughts I had throughout my 20s, moving from fear to acceptance. We want listeners to hear the story from song 1 to 13 as it is intended.”

Clay J Gladstone will celebrate the release of their new album on tour with Sienna Skies and Of Virtue (US) this November. The tour will take the band to The Basement in Canberra, The Jungle Duke in Wagga Wagga, The Leadbeater Hotel in Melbourne, LaLaLa’s in Wollongong, The Red Rattler in Sydney, and Tomcat Brisbane. Tickets on sale now.

Previous singles “Talk Of The Town“, “Postmodern Teenage Angst” and “Death By Idle Hands” have all collected play on Triple J across multiple programs, with the latter finding a spot on Rage, rotation on The Hoist on SYN FM and editorial love globally.

Clay J‘s manic blend of alt-rock, emo, indie, punk – or as the band playfully describes it ‘whatever the hell you want to call it’  – has resonated with audiences across the nation and has seen them recently sign with Def Wolf Records and become regulars on the East Coast live circuit. With a healthy sprinkling of single releases since their 2021 “Dead Friends” EP drop, Clay J have proven to be one of Sydney’s most exciting new acts. They’ve sold out multiple headline shows and boast previous support slots with the likes of heavyweight internationals Electric Callboy, The Menzingers and Slipknot’s Corey Taylor – who hand picked the band as main support for a tour last December. 

“Is This How I Die?” tracklisting:

Is This How I Die?
Talk Of The Town
Postmodern Teenage Angst
Death By Idle Hands
Fight Me
Why Does Everybody Hate Me?
In All Of My Disgrace
Three Cheers For Optimism
Pessimist
For All Your Friends
Parasite
i) We All Die Alone
ii) Something To Lose

Tour dates:

Wednesday Nov 6 – The Basement, Canberra
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Thursday Nov 7 – The Jungle Duke, Wagga Wagga
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Friday Nov 8 – The Leadbeater Hotel, Melbourne
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Thursday Nov 14 – Lalala’S Wollongong
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Friday Nov 15 – The Red Rattler, Sydney
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Saturday Nov 16 – Tomcat, Brisbane
Supporting Sienna Skies W/ Of Virtue

Tickets

Saturday Nov 30 – Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
15 Years Of Chopdog Entertainment W/ Bodyjar, The Porkers, Wil Wager And More

Tickets