Posted in: What's New | No Comments | Posted on October 22, 2021 by Grumpy

Lauded Canadian rockers Arkells are known for their passionate, politically charged rock and energetic live shows. Since emerging in the mid‐2000s, the Arkells have toured  diligently, issuing such albums as 2008’s Juno Award‐winning Jackson Square and 2016’s Morning Report.

Named after the Hamilton, Ontario street on which they rehearsed, Arkells formed in 2006 while lead singer Max Kerman and guitarist Mike DeAngelis were attending McMaster University. They self‐released their debut EP Deadlines in 2007 before seeing it reissued the following year on the Canadian independent label Dine Alone.

The band’s first long‐player, Jackson Square, arrived in 2008, and resulted in a 2010 Juno Award for New Group of the Year. It was followed in 2011 by their sophomore outing and major‐label debut, Michigan Left, which earned the group its second Juno Award.

Working with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, M83), they released their third album, High Noon, in 2014. Landing their first bona fide altrock number one with the single “Leather Jacket,” the album was eventually certified gold in Canada and put another two Junos in their growing collection.

Following 2015’s Study Music EP, Arkells began teasing songs from their forthcoming fourth LP while on tour in early 2016. The album, Morning Report, was released in August 2016 on Last Gang/eOne and was described by singer/guitarist Kerman as their “most honest” work yet. The album’s first single, “Private School,” peaked at number one on Canadian Alternative radio.

The group’s fifth full‐length album, Rally Cry, arrived in 2018, and included the singles “People’s Champ,” “Relentless.” The following year, they won the Juno Award for Rock Album of the Year, and producer Eric Ratz took home the Jack Richardson Producer of the Year Award.