Teenage Wrist Break Three-Year Silence With Surprise EP Produced By Ken Andrews

The Failure frontman co-wrote material for A Different Shine, the shoegaze duo’s first release since 2023.

Teenage Wrist have returned with A Different Shine, a surprise three-track EP produced and mixed by Failure’s Ken Andrews. It’s their first new music in three years, and Andrews’ involvement goes well beyond the production credits.

Released through Epitaph Records on Friday, 6 November, the EP follows the Los Angeles duo’s 2023 album Still Love. Andrews worked closely with vocalist and guitarist Marshall Gallagher and drummer Anthony Salazar, contributing to the songwriting and arrangements.

The collaboration makes sense for a band whose sound draws on the heavier end of shoegaze, grunge and alternative rock. Failure’s influence can be heard across that musical territory, but Andrews brought something more direct to these sessions.

He co-wrote “Twist My Tongue”, providing the original guitar riff around which the track developed. Gallagher told ThePRP the song’s lyrics were inspired by a podcast discussing alleged CIA involvement in drug distribution within music communities.

Gallagher also described the band as longtime admirers of Andrews’ production work and musical projects, while Andrews recalled an open recording process in which all three musicians could contribute ideas.

The result is a three-track release spanning the heavy groove of “Wishing Well”, the fuzz-laden “Twist My Tongue” and the more melodic “Don’t Mind”.

The band’s official Bandcamp credits list Gallagher on vocals, guitar and bass, with Salazar handling drums, vocals and percussion. Andrews produced and mixed the EP, with additional engineering by Nate Van Fleet and mastering by Nick Townsend.

Teenage Wrist also acknowledged their extended absence in a social media statement accompanying the release, referring to changes over the past few years and indicating that more information would follow. They offered no further explanation in the announcement.

Australian fans last welcomed Teenage Wrist in August 2024, when the duo made their local live debut with headline shows in Melbourne, Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane. At the time, Gallagher admitted they had never expected to make it Down Under, despite repeated requests from Australian listeners. No new Australian dates have been announced alongside A Different Shine.

An Erik Rojas-directed video for “Twist My Tongue” accompanies the release. Epitaph has also listed a vinyl edition featuring instrumental versions of all three tracks.

A Different Shine is available now through Epitaph Records and the band’s official Bandcamp page.