Following a billboard teaser in Philly, Ink & Dagger have announced that reissues of their entire catalog are coming out on Halloween (10/31) via Trust Records, the same label that’s been responsible for recent reissues by such classic hardcore bands as 7Seconds, Circle Jerks, and SSD. They’ll also be playing three hometown reunion shows Halloween weekend at the First Unitarian Church, with support from Paint It Black on 10/30, Deadguy on 10/31, and Soul Glo on 11/1.
Ink & Dagger initially existed between 1996 and 1999, and their catalog has since influenced so many bands, including My Chemical Romance, Thursday, AFI, and American Nightmare. Not long after their breakup, vocalist Sean Patrick McCabe tragically died at age 27, sadly putting an end to the band’s output for good, and guitarist Don Devore went on to play in countless other bands, including but not limited to The Icarus Line, Collapsing Scenery, Sick Feeling, Amazing Baby, and later lineups of DC shoegaze veterans Lilys. Ink & Dagger did play a very small number of reunion shows in 2010-2011 with Thursday’s Geoff Rickly filling in on lead vocals.
No word on what the lineup for this upcoming reunion will be, but Geoff has been hyping the reunion, and who knows, will former bassist turned famous comedian/actor Eric Wareheim rejoin?? Regardless, these shows are gonna be sick. Get tickets to night 1, night 2, and night 3 starting Friday (10/3) at 10 AM.
As for the reissues, everything was remastered by David Cooley. There’s also a deluxe box set called Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works that includes the box-set-exclusive disc Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96-99, a compilation of B-sides, singles and splits. The box also includes an insert/book by writer Erik Bader titled The Almighty. Along with the announcement comes a video for the remastered “Full Circle” directed by Brian Balchak that includes unseen footage by Joe Burns and images from the box set’s book. Check that out below, and pre-order everything here.
Don Devore shot and directed this short film to tease the reunion as well:
INK & DAGGER REISSUES (wording via press release):
LP 1: Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake Through My Philadelphia Heart – Includes Ink & Dagger’s first two EPs and one bonus track. It’s the first time ever this collection is available on vinyl as it was originally released only as a CD in the 90s. The Dagger’s blistering origin story, including such iconic tracks as “The Changeling”, “Frigid Shortcomings”, “The Road to Hell”, and “Full Circle”.
01 – The Road To Hell
02 – Shadowtalker
03 – Caretaker
04 – Full Circle
05 – The Changeling
06 – Frigid Shortcomings
07 – Newspaper Tragedy
08 – Bloodlust
09 – My Lady Love
10 – Crawler
LP 2: The Fine Art of Original Sin – Ink & Dagger’s first LP. Originally released in 1998, The Fine Art of Original Sin saw Ink & Dagger pushing the boundaries of genre into uncharted territory. A psychotic blend of punk, hardcore, electronica and full-throttled rock and roll, Fine Art showcased the Dagger at their absolute peak.
01 – The Fine Art Of Original Sin
02 – Philapsychosis
03 – We Live Despite Their Schemes
04 – Cut Throat Tactics
05 – The Six Feet Under Swindle
06 – The History In Ecstasy
07 – Vampire Fast Code Ver. 1.5
08 – The Fine Art Of Original Sin (The GSF Resonant Mix)
LP 3: Ink & Dagger – Originally released posthumously on Buddyhead in 2000, this was the Ink & Dagger’s final form and statement, a murky, swirling, psychedelic soundscape that defied all category, a cryptic preview of a future that never came.
01 – She Came Crashing
02 – Sweet Relief Of Revenge
03 – Sarcastic Sunrise
04 – The Lines Of Lies
05 – Part Time Prophet
06 – Den Of The Scorpio
07 – Absinthe
08 – Lolita
09 – Creatures Like Us
10 – Omit
11 – Facedreamer
LP 4: Experiments in Nocturnal Sound and Energy: Singles 96-99 – *This LP will only be included in the physical box set and is a compilation of B sides, singles and splits. A sinister showcase of the band’s various modes and methods, exploring the furthest perimeters of structure and sound.
01 – Philapsychosis
02 – The 13th Dream
03 – The 13th Dream (JG’s Remix)
04 – Vampire Fast Code
05 – Catch The Flashback
06 – Mayor Withdrawal
07 – Part Time Prophet
08 – The Solo Mission
09 – Actress
Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works – Deluxe Edition Box Set – Split across four separate LP releases, Ink & Dagger: The Complete Works collects the entirety of the band’s four years of furious output, all together for the first time.
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Ink & Dagger — 2025 Tour Dates
Oct 30: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church w/ Paint It Black
Oct 31: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church w/ Deadguy
Nov 01: Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church w/ Soul Glo