Emerging from Indianapolis' fertile underground, post‑punk/gothic rock quartet The Secrecy – whose members also perform with the likes of Flesher, Chrome Waves, Bringers Of Disease, Isolation Drills, En Dive, and more – have swiftly established themselves as a formidable new voice in US post‑punk. Blending shadow‑drenched atmosphere with driving rhythmic urgency, the band bridges the stark emotionality of classic goth rock with a modern, cinematic edge. Following early singles, the band now reaches a defining moment with its debut full‑length, Pins & Needles, out on 17 July via Disorder Recordings.
Where those early tracks introduced brooding textures and soaring arrangements, Pins & Needles expands The Secrecy's sonic and emotional scope into something deeper, sharper, and more immersive. The album captures a world suspended in catharsis: angular basslines pulse beneath walls of chorus‑laden guitar; drums shift between motorik propulsion and cavernous restraint; synth accents flicker like distant signals in the dark. Across its runtime, Pins & Needles explores themes of alienation, political fracture, private anxiety, and fragile human connection — each song unfolding with a sense of necessity that feels both personal and universal.
Rather than leaning on nostalgia, The Secrecy treats the vocabulary of post‑punk as a living language. The record moves fluidly from icy minimalism to towering crescendos, pairing stark lyrical introspection with expansive, emotionally resonant soundscapes. It is an album built on contrasts: intimacy and distance, despair and defiance. The Secrecy delivers a debut that feels fully realised — a statement of intent that positions the band not as revivalists, but as contributors to the ongoing evolution of dark, guitar‑driven music. The result is a record that lingers long after the final note fades.
Engineered by the band, Pins & Needles was mixed by Tyler Watkins, mastered by Corey Miller, and completed with artwork and layout by Ryan Dunn.
Vocalist Dustin Boltjes describes the album's lead single: "'Dancing In The Fire' is a song about the good and bad decisions that come with going out on a bender and believing in your clouded mind that everything you do is a wise choice. When 99% of the time, it's the exact opposite. I've had so many nights like this, where I find out second-hand, the next day, that I was an uncontrollable maniac who couldn't be stopped. We've all been there. So, this is a song about that. About dancing with the devil".
Guitarist Jeff Wilson adds: "I think going into this, we all wanted to make an album completely different from our other projects past and present, one that's totally dynamic and unlike anything we'd done before. With songs like 'Sky', 'Sam', and 'Dancing In The Fire', we're giving a little bit of something for everyone. We've been sitting on this record for a while now and are excited to finally put it out into the world".
The Secrecy is booking tour dates surrounding the album's release, including a set at this year's instalment of the Post. Festival (23 July). The band has also scheduled a short Midwest tour from 15 to 18 October — see the dates below — and will announce further live dates throughout the year. Link
* The Secrecy Live/Tour Dates:
22 July - Portal, Louisville, KY
23 July - Post. Festival, Indianapolis, IN
15 October - Cloudland Theater, Minneapolis, MN
16 October - The Jamb – Osh Kosh, WI
17 October - Liar's Club, Chicago, IL
18 October - X-Ray Arcade, Milwaukee, WI

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