Darkest Hour is in the mix for this year's Record Store Day, April 22, with a 7" release of its Judas Priest's "Painkiller" and Minor Threat's "I Don’t Wanna Hear It" covers, alongside the song "Enter Oblivion" from Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora. The 7" will be limited to 1,000 copies, though all proceeds from every one of those sales will be going to the National Immigration Law Center.
Here's what guitarist Mike Schleibaum had to say.
“It is with great pride we present to you our first Record Store Day release, which also happens to be our first 7-inch record in almost two decades! This 7-inch features two covers that we recorded before the launch of our Indiegogo campaign last year. Although the songs were released for free as part of a thank you to our loyal fans we felt they wouldn’t get their justice served without some sort of physical release. In addition to the covers, this 7-inch also includes the song ‘Enter Oblivion’ from our new album, Godless Prophets & The Migrant Flora. This song and 7-inch have a very special meaning for us.
Having toured the world countless times at this point, we have seen the destructiveness and divisiveness that arises from nation states, borders, and immigration policies. These invisible, arbitrary lines that divide families, cultures, and humanity are archaic and obsolete. We believe that no human being is ever illegal just for existing. We believe that everyone regardless of race, religion, age, ethic heritage, sexual identification and sexual orientation should be treated with the respect and dignity that everyone deserves.
A Darkest Hour show is a place where everyone is welcome, where individual thought is celebrated. We do not want a hive mind of loyal followers; we want a community of free-thinking individuals. It is in this spirit that we, in conjunction with Southern Lord Recordings, will donate all proceeds from this 7-inch record to the National Immigration Law Center. They are a non-profit who have been on the forefront of the fight to deliver services to those who find themselves caught in the middle of this outdated, feverishly demonic system.
The song ‘Enter Oblivion’ centers on a traveler with no home and is, therefore the perfect choice for this 7-inch. Vinyl is our preferred way of enjoying music and the depth of these songs on wax is unparalleled in any other medium. If you can find this 7-inch before it sells out, get it! It will never be repressed and will always be a special part of our history. Cheers to Southern Lord Recordings for helping us make this unique record and also for echoing our thoughts. It is only together that we can turn the present tide of humanity towards the idea that we all share one world, together.”
You can check out all the metal releases for Record Store Day 2017 here.
