IST IST Share “Stamp You Out” & Announce New Album “Protagonists”

IST IST are back with the insurgent new single, Stamp You Out. The track arrives in tandem with the announcement of Protagonists, the band’s third studio album, which is set to be released on the 31st March 2023 via Kind Violence Records. Delivering a resolute punch with an acerbic sting in its tale, Stamp You Out sees the Manchester band return to the spotlight with commanding form and typically uncompromising style. From its blistering post punk guitar lines to its punishing percussives, Stamp You Out creates an impending atmosphere of anxiety throughout. With Adam Houghton‘s trademark baritone vocal booming with all the force of an omnipotent autocrat at the lectern of a police state; it makes for a powerful statement of intent that instantly envelops listeners back into the shadow-strewn world of IST IST. The single is accompanied by an video that sees the band deliver a voltaic performance of the track against a flurry of incandescent lights.

“[Stamp You Out] tips its hat to the previous IST IST where the modus operandi was to try and make an impact in the most forceful way; pounding drums and bass and repetitive lyrics. I remember watching a news report where a politician, whose name I forget, just kept saying: ‘we need to stamp this out’. I was thinking ‘we need to stamp you out’, so I wrote an aggressive fight song and a call to arms about it. We felt like the track is a straightforward rock song which required a straightforward video and we didn’t want to over-embellish the visual aspect. For existing IST IST fans, it re-affirms what we’re all about, and for anyone new it tells you everything you need to know.” (Adam Houghton)

To mark the release, IST IST will be playing a special hometown launch show for the new record at the Manchester Ritz in March next year. There will also be a small preview tour before the end of 2022, with dates in London, Birmingham and Hebden Bridge with further UK live dates to be announced.