"Hello Exile" finds The Menzingers at their most introspective, trading some of their signature anthemic bluster for a more weathered, world-weary perspective. The songwriting remains sharp, but the context is darker, the reflections more somber.
- Recorded at legendary Philadelphia studio The Sound Factory with producer Brian McTernan, "Hello Exile" marked a return to the city where the band had previously recorded "After the Party." Lyrically, the album confronts themes of addiction, infidelity, and loss, making it one of the band's most personal and unvarnished works to date. Upon release, it debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart and number 29 on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart.
- The album's lead single, "Hello Ballyhoo," was released in August 2019, accompanied by a video that captured the band's live energy. The subsequent singles, "America (You're Freaking Me Out)" and "Strain Against the Grain," further previewed the album's thematic preoccupations and sonic palette. Despite its darker lyrical content, the album was widely praised by critics for its songwriting and emotional depth.
- "Hello Exile" was released on October 4, 2019, by Epitaph Records, a label with which The Menzingers have a long-standing relationship. The album followed their 2017 release "After the Party" and preceded their 2022 album "Some of It Was True." The record was met with critical acclaim and commercial success, charting in the US and internationally.
The Menzingers are a punk band from Scranton, Pennsylvania, known for their blend of folk-punk and heart-on-sleeve lyrical honesty. In 2019, with "Hello Exile," they delivered their seventh studio album, a collection of songs written during a period of personal turmoil and reflection.
Tracklist
