Inspired by their own harrowing automotive experience, Vancouver’s pop-punk powerhouse Chief State has turned out a high-octane banger with ‘No Brakes’. Even in the face of a broken down tour van (and the financial obstacles that come with it), Chief State’s latest single is a testament to the band’s resilience and resolve.
Released October 10, ‘No Brakes’ is the band’s first release of the year and incorporates all of the elements that have made Chief State a pillar of Canada’s pop-punk pantheon.
No strangers to the touring lifestyle, Chief State have more than a few miles under their belt – but the story behind ‘No Brakes’ was a new and terrifying first for the band. Frontman Fraser Simpson recalls the incident: “Summer 2022 we were sailing down the interstate heading from Houston, Texas, to Austin when all of a sudden the worst thing happened – no brakes.”
Managing to slow the van down to a full stop, they were then faced with the next obstacle. Simpson continues: “What happened next was a week of being stranded in Austin (s/o Rare Bloom for letting us crash) while we waited for an out of stock part to arrive to fix our van. The mechanic then said our vehicle was so rusted he wouldn’t advise driving 50 yards down the street, we cancelled shows, we ran out of money, we considered flying home. The poignant lyric “Nothing ever goes our way” repeats throughout the song because honestly, nothing has ever gone our way. But here we are, back again, doing the thing we love because we’re young and dumb and would like another excuse to get in a van and tour the continent.”
‘No Brakes’ was produced, engineered, and mixed by Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Youth Fountain) and mastered by Stu McKillop (Midnight Peg, By A Thread) at Rain City Recorders
Chief State are currently on tour with Calling All Captain, Violet Night and Gutter King.
Photo: Arkin Pal
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Stream ‘No Brakes’
Bio:
Hailing from Vancouver, BC, Chief State have built a reputation as one of Canada’s most exciting pop-punk exports. With a sound that blends the emo-tinged grit of The Story So Far with the urgency of Neck Deep, the band delivers heartfelt anthems packed with soaring melodies, pummeling rhythms, and unflinching honesty. Over the years, they’ve released acclaimed records, toured extensively across North America and beyond, and carved out a loyal global fanbase. With “No Brakes,” Chief State prove once again that they’re at the forefront of modern pop-punk—louder, sharper, and hungrier than ever.
