Gridiron — the rapcore supergroup featuring members of Never Ending Game, Scarab, Simulakra and more — have announced their sophomore album is on the way. The band’s Poetry From Pain arrives May 30th via Blue Grape Music, though you can now take in the full-frontal beatdown of the record’s latest single, “Mascot.”
The band’s new track follows late 2024 single “Talk Reel,” which will likewise appear on Poetry From Pain. “Mascot,” meanwhile, plays out as if Gridiron took the Nineties rap-rock boom and injected it with Slayer riffs, and it arrives in a Dan Centrone-directed video that finds the band cruising around L.A. in a Rolls Royce.
Vocalist Matthew Karll said in a statement that the punishingly bounced-and-pinch-squealed piece is “about people who say they are going to do things and don’t follow through with them, no matter what it is.” You can hear him tell it like it is by pressing play up above.
Poetry From Pain features guest appearances from Mike “TRUCK” Ryan of NYHC band Missing Link, emo-rap star nothing, nowhere., Action Bronson associate Big Body Bes, and what looks like an Umbrella Collective remix of 2022’s “Playin’ For Keeps” (called “Still Playin’ For Keeps”) featuring Daniel Son, Pro Dillinger, and Jay Royale.
You’ll find the full tracklisting details and album artwork down below, while pre-orders for Poetry From Pain are available here.
Gridiron are likewise hitting the road this spring, with a handful of support dates coming up with Power Trip, Sanguisugabogg and more. Those show details are likewise down below.
Poetry From Pain tracklisting:
26/9
Mascot
Army Of None
Best Served Cold
Tombstone
Still Playin’ For Keeps (Big Umbrella Remix Feat. Daniel Son, Pro Dillinger, and Jay Royale)
Copycat League
Poetry From Pain (Feat. nothing, nowhere.)
Roses (Feat. Mike “TRUCK Ryan)
Talk Real
Paydirt
Heavy Metal Money (Seen It All Before) (Feat. Big Body Bes)
Gridiron tour dates 2025:
4/11 Richmond, VA — United Blood
5/9 Chicago, IL — Metro#
5/11 Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple
5/14 Virginia Beach, VA — Peabody’s*
5/15 Columbia, SC — New Brookland Tavern*
5/16 Athens, GA — Georgia Theatre*
5/17 Pensacola, FL — The Handlebar*
5/18 Orlando, FL — Will’s Pub*
5/20 Raleigh, NC — Lincoln Theatre*
5/31-6/1 Detroit, MI — Tied Down Detroit
# with Power Trip
* with Sanguisugabogg, 200 Stab Wounds
This article was originally published on BrooklynVegan.com and has been edited by Revolver.