Protons and Electrons: Atom 1 – Litany of Grievances / Trophy Wives – Tomorrowland

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Hello! This is “A Litany of Grievances” the new single from Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends (Me: guitar/Vocals, Tony Ash: Bass, Dale Crover: Drums). This is Atom 1, the first volume of a 12 volume series called “Protons and Electrons”. Each Protons and Electrons volume features a great band on the B-side that either plays in Secret Friends, Records with Secret Friends or has some heavy relevance to how Neutron Friends came to be. In this case the other band is TROPHY WIVES, their first release in quite some time. Trophy Wives features the low end majesty of Mr. Tony Ash. Tony and I were label mates with previous bands and toured on multiple occasions. If I am the brain of the Secret Friends, he is absolutely the heart. It would probably exist without him, but I wouldn’t want it too. As per always the incredible Toshi Kasai is in the producer’s chair on this one, engineering and mixing as well, and in this case Cristy Joy provided some excellent background vocals.

The B-Side song: Trophy Wives – “Tomorrowland” was always a favorite of mine live, and it’s a pleasure to have it associated with this series. It’s an ass kicker.
Bob Weston of Chicago Mastering Company mastered and cut the lacquer.

This 7” is available for immediate purchase at $8 each, each one comes in a limited edition hand screened jacket by Christopher Williams of Plastic Flame Press, shipping later in March.
You can also purchase a digital version through bandcamp or through any of the usual ways one does that (as of later this week).

To say that this is a massive undertaking is an understatement of the highest order. It has been a grueling and involved process that is now just beginning to pay off with the actual release. Take all of the hassles of one release and multiply it by a dozen, and then involve other bands as well… yeah… let’s go ahead and say I have some tales. Yet, this is the way we wanted to present this material to you, as singles… months by months as part of this series.
What you will see is a digital single every month, followed by a physical single of the same song the next one.

If you wish you can purchase a “Friends of the Neutron” subscription and guarantee yourself a copy of each one as well as copies of the entire back catalog digitally, a custom t-shirt and another fun surprise. Either way, this is here for you to listen to now, and that makes us very happy. Spread the word!

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Protons and Electrons: Atom 5 – This is the Line / Reptoid – No HumanProtons and Electrons: Atom 5 – This is the Line / Reptoid – No Human

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Protons and Electrons: Atom 5 – This is the Line / Reptoid – No Human

What is there to say about the magificent Reptoid? A sight to behold and the only live act I can think of that sounds like an actual alien invasion. There’s a human that has a passing similarity that has held down the drum position in some live Neutron Friends outings. Said human is a tireless runner of sound and pizza aficionado, but that has nothing to do with the absolutely terrifying alien presence that is the mighty REPTOID. Prepare yourself humans! Prepare yourself.

Oh yeah, our song features the Earthquaker Devices Bit Commander heavily. However, it does not sound like Lardo. Adjust your expectations accordingly.

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends and The Erratic Retaliator Strategy present: Dangerous Nomenclature Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends and The Erratic Retaliator Strategy present: Dangerous Nomenclature 

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“What’s in a name? Would ‘Kiss From a Rose’ by any other name sound so sweet?”
Easy concept, kids. Two bands that are idiosyncratic and unique and are frequently related to the cultural dead end of “project” team up for a wild concept.

THE MISSION: pick 3 song titles
Each band writes a song to the song title, without hearing or knowing anything about the other band’s work.

The title inspires the music, the lyrics, the entire approach. Certainly things have a chance of getting interesting, yes?

Anyway, what transpires is the results of this collaboration/challenge. Feast your ears upon it… if you dare!
DANGEROUS NOMENCLATURE.


VINYL PRE-ORDER COMING SOON THROUGH LEARNING CURVE RECORDS, when we have a more realistic idea of the timeline when it might actually arrive. Thank all the Adele and Taylor Swift collector’s records for that.

credits

released February 4, 2022

The Erratic Retaliator Strategy
Mike – guitar, vocals
Ron – bass, vocals

Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends:
Conan Neutron – Vocals/Guitars
Tony Ash – Bass
Dale Crover – Drums
Toshi Kasai – Backup Vocals, Keys, Synth

Recorded and produced April 15th, 2021 and September 11th, 2021 by Toshi Kasai at Sound of Sirens

NeutronFriends Heavy Industries, Worldwide.
STILL ON TOP!


Artwork by Chris Williams – Plastic Flame Press (plasticflame.com)
Mastered by Bob Weston, Chicago Mastering Service, January 2022
Neutronfriends.com

LCR-080-1 / SW030

The Way of The NeutronThe Way of The Neutron

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2025

The Way of the Neutron

The Way of the Neutron – Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating.

For immediate release: March, 13 CONAN NEUTRON & THE SECRET FRIENDS PRESENTS NEW SINGLE AHEAD OT THE UPCOMING ALBUM RELEASE – ‘SHARKS KEEP MOVING’ Getting closer to the first Japanese tour and the release of ‘The Way of The Neutron’, Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends are happy to present the second single off the new album. Download HQ album cover.
Genres: punk-rock, noise-rock.
Format: CD, LP, DR.
FFO: Fugazi, The Cars,Queens Of The Stone Age, The Melvins.
Label: Seismic Wave Entertainment [A Private Soundcloud] Track-list:
1.Who Dares
2.Sharks Keep Moving
3.A Villain of Circumstance
4.Exit Interview
5.Official Business
6.Relentless
7.A Dream of Flight
8.Chekhov’s Grift
9.Integrity Wins Again
10.Bulletproof Tiger
11.The Burden of Dreams
12.The Way “It’s good! Swampy, dirty riffs.”Gerald V. Casale, DEVO “It’s heavy maaaaaan.” Bob Weston, Shellac

Mini-anthems for overwhelming and far too interesting times, defiant fight songs for those counted out or not counted at all. Still here. Still operating. Spangle, and sass, small scale arena rock for smart alecks and malcontents. Big riffs, critical thinking, and big smart rock for freaks, nerds and weirdos. The latest work of the mighty Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, The Way of the Neutron (2025) is a mission statement of the most compelling order. Blending heavy riffs, huge hooks and harmony with relentless abandon.

RE: ‘Sharks Keep Moving’, Conan Neutron says: “Ah, the shark terror of the deep. A little known fact about them is most sharks must keep moving to ensure water flows over their gills for respiration. Otherwise they will perish. What better metaphor for creative resilience, as an an artist changes and evolves? It is a central theme of the record and the song and the band. Sound wise the Jaws like main riff ties the whole thing together. The verses evokes Gang of Four more than most Neutron Friends songs, but has a pleasantly surprising Desert Rock(tm) style bridge with a few choice phrases that tie into the ‘not just survive, but thrive’ mindset of the record.” Telling the story of an ethos, a life of uncompromising music and the perseverance of the creative good fight in spite of overwhelming content and stimuli. It is not only the bands most accessible record, it stands alone as a case study for endurance.

We’ll stay off the pulpit here, but your pre-orders of LP, CD or just digital all help keep the band going to the next thing. Thank you so very much for those that can. If this isn’t in the cards for you, please consider sending the link to a friend or making a social media post. Cannot overstate how much that helps this particular flying circus.
Spangle, and sass, small scale arena rock for smart alecks and malcontents. Big riffs, critical thinking, and big smart rock for freaks, nerds and weirdos. The latest work of the mighty Conan Neutron & the Secret Friends, Way of the Neutron (2025) is a mission statement of the most compelling order. Blending heavy riffs, huge hooks and harmony with relentless abandon. Telling the story of an ethos, a life of uncompromising music and the perseverance of the creative good fight in spite of overwhelming content and stimuli. It is not only the bands most accessible record, it stands alone as a case study for endurance. The very characteristic attitude is a part of Conan Neutron’s DNA. Talking about the first single off the upcoming long-play, Neutron states:

Who Dares? Is a mission statement song. Most attributable to something a super villain would scream as a hero enters the room, this is a song about not just surviving but thriving often against insurmountable odds. One challenge at a time, one step at a time, one punch at time, one round at a time. Featuring a simple guitar hook and a relentless menacing main riff, it is a motivational soundtrack to dogged persistence. Who Dares? I’m the one who dares.”

About the second single, Sharks Keep Moving:
“Ah, the shark terror of the deep. A little known fact about them is most sharks must keep moving to ensure water flows over their gills for respiration. Otherwise they will perish. What better metaphor for creative resilience, as an an artist changes and evolves? It is a central theme of the record and the song and the band. Sound wise the Jaws like main riff ties the whole thing together. The verses evokes Gang of Four more than most Neutron Friends songs, but has a pleasantly surprising Desert Rock(tm) style bridge with a few choice phrases that tie into the ‘not just survive, but thrive’ mindset of the record.”

And the third single, A Villain of Circumstance:
A Villain of Circumstance is the 3rd Way of the Neutron single. A tonal sequel to Chesapeake Ripper’s perceived villainy it has the line “Dreaming is useless when you’re around.” It is one of the poppiest songs and features background vocals by the incredible Kate Wakefield of Lung. 

The previous record is a split LP with the incredible LUNG called: Adult Prom  on Learning Curve Records in 2023, This follows up 2022’s Dangerous Nomenclature. A three song concept ep and 2020’s Dark Passengers: their last dedicated full length release and 3rd full length album. After a relentless and creative 10 year run so far, with love from college radio, press and crowds alike. Neutron Friends show no sign of slowing down at all. Some people may be more familiar with the podcast,  Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal , or the 4 Day Caterwaul music festival in Minneapolis but make no mistake about it. Neutron is a born rocker and very good at what he does and the Secret Friends in all iterations are a world class rock band. 

Available now to pre-order, and to stream in full in bandcamp by March 20th. You can now find your way… to the Way of the Neutron.
1. Who Dares?
2. Sharks Keep Moving
3. A Villain of Circumstance
4. Exit Interview
5. Official Business
6. Relentless!
7. A Dream of Flight
8. Chekhov’s Grift
9. Integrity Wins Again
10. Bulletproof Tiger
11. The Burden of Dreams
12. The Way

Who Dares? on Spotify, Apple Music, Youtube