As Cities Burn have taken an unconventional approach to releasing new music, quietly unveiling their new album, ‘brain matter(s),’ exclusively to paid subscribers of the band’s Substack newsletter.
The surprise release arrived on July 21, marking the Christian post-hardcore outfit’s first new full-length effort since 2019. Rather than opting for a traditional rollout through streaming platforms or a record label, the band chose to make the album available directly to supporters through their subscription-based Substack community.
Alongside the release, As Cities Burn published an extensive retrospective detailing the band’s often turbulent journey over the years and the circumstances that ultimately led to the creation of ‘brain matter(s).’ While access to the album itself is limited to paid subscribers, the accompanying written piece has been made available for fans to read free of charge.
The unique release strategy reflects a growing trend among artists seeking more direct relationships with their audiences, bypassing traditional distribution models in favor of fan-supported platforms.
For now, ‘brain matter(s)’ remains exclusive to the band’s paid Substack subscribers, with no official word yet regarding a wider release on streaming services.
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