Unsane, Vincas, Naw at The EARL

From the venue:

Unsane

Occupational Hazard by Unsane returns in a newly remastered edition reviving a

pivotal moment in the band’s history where abrasive, heavy sound collided with

elements of punk, metal, and industrial music. Originally released in January 1998

through Relapse Records, the album’s reissue arrives on Friday, February 4, 2026 via the band’s own imprint label Lamb Unlimited, revisiting a defining chapter in the group’s

evolution.

Sonically, the record is noted for its aggressively distorted guitars, driving basslines, and

pounding drums – hallmarks of the band’s uncompromising noise rock style.

In preparation for the album, the band first recorded a six-song demo session at AmRep

Studios in Minneapolis, MN. Shortly after, Unsane relocated to Excello Studios in

Brooklyn, NY, where they tracked the album with engineer Billy Anderson. Frontman

Chris Spencer (guitar, vocals) recalls the period: “The writing process for Occupational

Hazard was great. I think the one real defining factor to this very creatively rewarding

period of time in our career was that we knew what we were doing in terms of

songwriting, and we were able to take our time while constantly playing.”

Following the recording sessions, Occupational Hazard was mixed by legendary

producer and Barkmarket guitarist David Sardy. Reflecting on the collaboration,

Spencer adds: “I’ve always liked what he did with his own band and in the studio, and I

thought that it would work well for what we were doing. Dave also had access to a really

good studio in Midtown Manhattan, so we decided to take advantage of his great

production work and that space. We had been offered a three-record deal with Relapse

Records and figured that would be the best thing to do, considering we wanted to tour

constantly.”

Shortly before the album’s original release, during a European press tour, Spencer was

brutally attacked by street thugs in Vienna, Austria, and left for dead. He returned to

touring after emergency surgery, though the incident significantly disrupted the album’s

original touring cycle.

Now, more than two decades later, the entire album has been newly remastered by

longtime Unsane collaborator and engineer Andrew Schneider. All formats will include

an extra track, “No Soul,” originally released via Frank Kozik’s now-defunct, infamous

Man’s Ruin label as a vinyl-only limited edition. Additionally, the band will release the

original six-song demo session recorded at AmRep Studios in Minneapolis, MN. This

previously unreleased material will be included in the digital download format and will

also be made available for streaming and download.

Despite its cult status, the band had never performed Occupational Hazard in its entirety

– until a newly announced, one-time-only special performance at the Roadburn Festival

in April 2026. In addition to this exclusive appearance, Unsane will embark on a full

EU/UK headline tour, running from March 13 to April 19, 2026. Pre-order the reissue

from now on here.