CUT unleashed their fifth studio album Annihilation Road in 2010. One year earlier, the Bologna-based trio moved to New York to work with sound engineer, musician, and producer Matt Verta-Ray of Speedball Baby/Madder Rose/Heavy Trash fame. The relationship between the Bologna-based trio and Matt was born on the road, thanks to the shows that CUT played with Speedball Baby and Heavy Trash in Italy and continental Europe. Matt is a skilled guitarist, multi-instrumentalist, sound engineer, and producer, running the all-analog studio N.Y. Hed in New York’s Lower East Side. He has recorded artists such as Ronnie Spector, The Oblivians, Dirtbombs, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, and Andre Williams. Matt’s partner at N.Y. Hed was Ivan Julian from legendary punk/new wave outfit Richard Hell and The Voidoids, who edited and mastered the album.
Mutual respect, friendship, and shared musical taste between CUT and Matt Verta-Ray led to the collaboration that created this album. It was an exciting experience for CUT, a true immersion into the environment that spawned a large share of the music that inspired them. The result was a powerful album whose songs still constitute the backbone of the band’s fiery live shows.
Since the vinyl edition has been out of print for over ten years, it’s time for Go Down Records to reissue it!