With a new single and music video out in the wild, Johnny 3 Tears shared some tidbits on the history behind “Trap God”, check out a full reposting of the official press release reproduced below-
HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD will release its eighth studio album, “Hotel Kalifornia”, on August 12 via Dove & Grenade Media/BMG. According to a press release, the LP represents “a juxtaposition between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’, highlighting the ongoing homelessness and cost of living crisis that is affecting the band’s home state of California.” The record features recent singles “Wild In These Streets” and “CHAOS”, as well as “City Of The Dead”, the official music video for which can be seen below.
The clip, directed by frequent collaborator Brian Cox (BRING ME THE HORIZON, THE USED),is set in the band’s interpretation of the “City Of The Dead”, in which the five bandmates mind their days in a “Beetlejuice”-inspired, twisted world where all things dead have another life.
The song, which has amassed two million streams across platforms and enjoyed priority placements on genre playlists such as Spotify‘s Rock Hard, Hard Rock and Rock rotation as well as Apple Music‘s Breaking Hard Rock and New In Rock, is also currently in the Top 40 and rising at U.S. rock and active rock radio. No doubt that the band will be performing this song on this summer’s “Rockzilla” tour with PAPA ROACH, FALLING IN REVERSE and BAD WOLVES.
Due to overwhelming support for the new song, the band has also announced that they will be releasing a additional track, “Trap God”, this Friday, July 8. The thunderous track takes listeners back to the band’s precarious beginnings — recounting financial struggles and doing what was necessary to survive.
Johnny 3 Tears shares: “‘Trap God’ details the band’s early days pre-record label fighting financial set-backs while growing weed in a dirty North Hollywood garage just to make ends meet.”
Not long after the turn of the century, a collective of friends congregated around a common vision bred in the gutters and back alleys of Hollywood, California. Under the influence of everything from gritty Nineties hip-hop to industrial metal (not to mention cheap booze),they climbed out of similar experiences in poverty and hardship and vaulted to the forefront of 21st century rock music on their own terms.
To this day, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD hinges on the bond of five individuals who relay such raw experiences into relatable anthems. However, the platinum-certified quintet — Johnny 3 Tears, J-Dog, Funny Man, Charlie Scene and Danny — tell their story like never before on “Hotel Kalifornia”.
“We were in a world of shit,” states Johnny 3 Tears. “The opportunities for failure were far more prevalent than the opportunities for success. We were hanging out with gangbangers and drug dealers. The chances of overcoming were very slim. We made something special together because of the heartbreak and heartache that came from all our experiences.”
“‘Hotel Kalifornia’ brings me back to a time when all that mattered was music,” adds J-Dog. “The only thing I gave a shit about was going to shows. That was it.”
Throughout 2021, the boys recorded in Nashville and Los Angeles with producers Erik Ron (PANIC! AT THE DISCO, MOTIONLESS IN WHITE),Andrew Migliore (SUECO, PAPA ROACH) and Drew Fulk (Lil Wayne, Lil Peep). Working face to face, HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD rekindled the unbridled intensity of their formative material, yet with refinement only possible through years of grinding on the road.
“When you listen to ‘Hotel Kalifornia’, I hope you see how far we’ve come,” Johnny 3 Tears leaves off. “J-Dog and Charlie Scene are completely different songwriters than they were 15 years ago. I’m so impressed by everyone in the band. The only thing we give a fuck about is the audience and trying to get better on each record.”
“After all of these years, people on the outside really have a hard time believing we’re still best friends,” J-Dog adds. “We’ve stayed this close even with all of the shit we’ve been through. Usually bands break up friendships, but we’re best friends — and we always will be.”
“Hotel Kalifornia” track listing:
01. CHAOS
02. World War Me
03. Ruin My Life
04. Hourglass
05. Go To War
06. Alone At The Top
07. Wild In These Streets
08. Dangerous
09. Lion Eyes
10. Trap God
11. Happy When I Die
12. Reclaim
13. City Of The Dead
14. Alright
