Mxpx have returned to Tooth & Nail records for their eighth studio album, Secret Weapon. Set for release July 17, the album is full of the highly-charged, infectious anthems that have made the punk/pop trio scene favorites and boasts a smattering of adventurous, classic pop-inspired winners that take Mxpx into new territory. Look for Mxpx to give fans a taste of the new songs as they headline the Tooth & Nail tour -- now in its third year-which began yesterday (May 1) in Seattle and criss-crosses America before wrapping June 11 in Salt Lake City.
The new album reunites Mxpx --
Mike Herrera (bass/vocals),
Tom Wisniewski (guitars) and
Yuri Ruley (drums) -- with
Aaron Sprinkle, who produced the band's first album (Pokinatcha) and went on to work with artists such as Pedro The Lion, Anberlin, Eisley, Emery and The Almost.
The incendiary, attention-grabbing first single and album opener "Secret Weapon" features a guitar solo from Bad Religion's Brian Baker and also finds MxPx wielding its infamous, optimistic tack. "We've always been a band that's tried to focus on the positive side of life," acknowledges Herrera. "But we try to do it in a way that's real to people and not cheesy. We kind of embrace the dismal and the uplifting at the same time. And 'Secret Weapon,' the song and the album, sums up where MXPX is right now."
MXPX finds the perfect balance of dichotomy and consistency on Secret Weapon from "Shut It Down" -- a blistering homage to The Clash replete with soaring choruses, thundering drums and a vocal cameo from Sugarcult's Tim Pagnotta -- to the riotous, 90-second circle-pit anthem of "Contention," as well as the stellar harmonies that elevate the lush, Beach Boys-inspired "Sad Sad Song" with guest John Davis, formerly of Superdrag on piano and backing vocals.
After a decade and a half in operation, Mxpx has now sold over 2.4 million records worldwide. Founded in July 1992 by Herrera and Ruley, the Bremerton, Washington-bred band's line-up has remained constant since Wisniewski joined in 1995. The band has amassed a series of alternative radio and video favorites like "Punk Rawk Show," "Chick Magnet," "Move To Bremerton," "I'm Okay, You're Okay" and "Running Out Of Time" over seven extremely popular studio albums, an array of EPs, plus a live disc and a DVD. Returning to Tooth & Nail -- a label now running circles around the conglomerates when it comes to getting rock albums on the charts by the likes of Underoath, Anberlin and The Almost--made perfect sense for its glimmering but tenacious eighth album. "It's no secret that years ago we had a pretty well-publicized falling out with them but it's been a long time and things have healed," Tom says. "We sort of picked up where we left off." Fresh off the completion of an amicable deal with respected indie SideOneDummy, MXPX began seriously considering label founder Brandon Ebel's offer to rejoin the label.
From the explosive closer "Tightly Wound," which boasts a guest contribution by Benji Madden of Good Charlotte, to the upbeat punch of "Here's To The Life," the men in Mxpx -- who were handed the Keys To The City of Bremerton last year -- have delivered the strongest record of its career.
The complete track listing for Secret Weapon is:
01. Secret Weapon
02. Shut it down
03. Here's To The Life
04. Top Of The Charts
05. Punk Rock Celebrity
06. Contention
07. Angles
08. Drowning
09. Chop Chop
10. Your On Fire
11. Bass So Low
12. Sad Sad Song
13. Never Better Than Now
14. Biting The Bullet
15. Not Nothing
16. Tightly Wound
/ my profile 
