Battle For The Sun

Recorded over three months by producer Dave Bottrill (chosen by the band largely because of his work with Tool) in his Toronto studio and mixed in London by My Bloody Valentine, Smashing Pumpkins and Nine Inch Nails supremo Alan Moulder, Placebo’s sixth album is a startling, alive, vital and boundary-vaulting record that marks a whole new era for a band that were in need of a change.

Musically refreshed by their new line-up, new drummer Steve Hewitt joined in 2008, the band also set about changing their business surroundings. When their contract with Virgin Records expired, Placebo were reluctant to throw themselves back into the major label machine. They grasped the opportunity of complete artistic freedom by self-funding the recording of ‘Battle for The Sun’. They then took the brave and uncompromising step to secure licensing and distribution agreements for the record with a number of smaller labels in each territory so as to own the record themselves.

“We’ve made a record about choosing life, about choosing to live, about stepping out of the darkness and into the light,” explains Brian. “Not necessarily turning your back on the darkness because it’s there, it’s essential; it’s a part of who you are, but more about the choice of standing in the sunlight instead.”

“I’m very optimistic about the future,” concludes Brian. “I’m in a positive frame of mind and a good head space. It’s very exciting. There’s a lot of life in the old dog just yet.”