Over two years in the making, Long Island’s Stand Still is excited to share the debut full-length, Steps Ascending, out today through DAZE. Formed in 2020, Stand Still launched with their EP, A Practice In Patience, in 2021, followed by their second EP, In A Moment’s Notice in 2022.
Throughout the ten songs on Steps Ascending, the band sticks true to their emotionally driven melodic hardcore, while also generating some of their heaviest material yet. The song structures are bright, weaved with moody lyrics and bouncy breakdowns that can be expected to hit hard in a live setting. Guest features from Kristian Hallbert of Crime In Stereo and Michael Smith of Pain Of Truth make it a true Long Island music scene affair.
The record was produced and mixed by Greg Thomas at Silver Bullet Studios, with additional mixing by Chris Teti, and mastered by Kris Crummett at Interlace Audio.
Speaking on the album’s themes, vocalist Gerry Windus states: “A lot of my lyrics end up reading like an internal dialogue, and maybe that’s the best way to convey whatever story I’m trying to tell. Many of these songs ended up playing on the theme of growing up religious, which is a common thread for a lot of people who grew up on Long Island. The album art portrays one’s attempt to escape from a religious belief system that is instilled in them. This ‘catholic guilt’ leads them to believe that their actions in life will be judged upon death. This theme is most thoroughly explored in the title track. The LP as a whole doesn’t follow this theme for its entirety, however.”
Stand Still is currently on tour with Soul Blind and ASkySoBlack. The band will also celebrate their record release on August 24th at AMH in Amityville, NY alongside Capital (reunion), Celebrity Murderers, Sick of Talk, Somerset Thrower, and Ten Years Out. Full dates below.
Stand Still is Gerry Windus (vocals), Steve Hallam (guitar), Bryan Natole (guitar), Mat Rienecker (bass) and Andre Valerio (drums).
Tour Dates with Soul Blind + ASkySoBlack
Friday June 14 – Baltimore MD @ Holy Frijoles
Saturday June 15 – Scranton PA @ Jackson St
Sunday June 16 – Lake Como NJ @ Saltys Beach Bar
Monday June 17 – Toronto ON @ Nineteen Seventy Nine
Tuesday June 18 – Cleveland OH @ No Class
Wednesday June 19 – Detroit MI @ Parts And Labor
Thursday June 20 – Chicago IL @ Beat Kitchen
Friday June 21 – Louisville KY @ Mag Bar
Saturday June 22 – Nashville TN @ The End
Sunday June 23 – Little Rock AR @ Vino’s
Saturday July 6 – Philadelphia PA @ Foto Club
Saturday August 17th – New York NY @ Bowery Ballroom w/ Pity Sex
Saturday August 24th – Amityville NY @ AMH (Record Release) w/ Capital
