PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS will open their spring US tour with Housecore labelmates KING PARROT on
SEPTEMBER 6TH @ SANTOS BAR, New Orleans

PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE ILLEGALS released their Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue full-length earlier this year via Anselmo’s own Housecore Records. Called, “fifty minutes of gnarly, vicious extreme metal…,” by Revolver Magazine, “an ever-shifting fusillade of extreme groove prog…,” by Decibel Magazine, “a schizophrenic musical expression that’s as insane as it is enjoyable,” by Blabbermouth and, “unquestionably one of the angriest and heaviest albums of ANSELMO‘s career,” by Exclaim!, the critically-lauded offering is extreme, abrasive, aggressive, and anthemic. In other words, it’s purely ANSELMO.

Following a successful maiden touring cycle for THE ILLEGALS, the ANSELMO hunkered down at his home studio in Louisiana to record what would become Choosing Mental Illness As A Virtue in 2014 and 2015. The lineup shifted as Stephen Taylor (Superjoint) transitioned from bass to guitar, Mike DeLeon (Flesh Horder, Being Killed, ex-MOD et al) joined as a guitarist, and Walter Howard (Grieved, Oppressive Force) took over bass duties. Meanwhile, Jose Manuel “Blue” Gonzalez (Superjoint, Warbeast) held down the drums. Through rigorous rehearsals and writing sessions, a framework for the new music took shape. “Every song is full of relentless anxiety, tension, and malice,” writes Metal Wani, “Seeking solace is not in the cards as the death-tinged hardcore brutality within this album is terrifying. However, there is a bit of a cathartic release that only the tortured vocals of PHIL ANSELMO can provide.”