When the news got out back in the late '90s that musicians from such bands as Only Living Witness, Battery, and Ashes had started working together on a new project, anticipation was high. As a huge fan of vocalist Jonah Jenkins, I was especially excited about Miltown, which also featured guitarist Brian McTernan, bassist Jay Cannava, drummer Rob Dulaney, and guitarist Matt Squire within its lineup.
Miltown eventually signed with a major label (Giant Records) and recorded an album with Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, KISS) December ’97 and January ’98. Sadly, the melodic post-hardcore group's debut album never came out. "We recorded 18 songs, Toby mixed 10, and the label said that they didn't hear any hits, so we would have to spend another 200,000 dollars to record another album," Jonah told me in a 2017 interview.
"Because Toby didn't mix it completely, and the reels have disappeared from the Warner archives," said the vocalist at the time. The band broke up before the songs were mixed and the master tapes have sat in Southern California warehouses ever since. But good news for folks who fell in love with Miltown through their various non-album releases, and leaked LP sessions has just surfaced.
Man Alive Creative has achieved an exclusive license to release the recordings after almost 30 years. Titled Tales of Never Letting Go, the album is being teased via two tracks today, "Cleverer," and "Unraveling," both offering a glimpse into Miltown's tasty songwriting:
Tales of Never Letting Go was mixed by guitarist Brian McTernan (Turnstile, Thrice, Angel Du$t) at Salad Days Studio and its packaging designed by Tom Bejgrowicz (Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash, Snapcase).
The album was mastered by Nick Townsend (The Hold Steady, Nails, Dr. Dre) and features 13 songs, 10 of which debut here and three that appeared on the band’s debut 7” for Hydrahead Records in ’97.
The packaging for the vinyl version of Tales of Never Letting Go includes a full-color jacket, an innersleeve featuring complete lyrics and credits, an insert with the band's photos, ephemera, and master tape imagery from the time of recording the album—all of which have a matte coating to help protect against finger prints.
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Tales of Never Letting Go is available for presale via Man Alive Creative (vinyl, digital).
Tagged: ashes, battery, be well, miltown, only living witness
