MAN’S GIN (featuring multi-instrumentalist Erik Wunder of COBALT) have completed work on their debut album, entitled Smiling Dogs.

Initially formed by Wunder in 2005 while still residing in Denver, Colorado (Wunder has since relocated and now dwells within the urban jungle of Brooklyn, NY), Man's Gin was initially centered around Wunder and a friend wielding their acoustic guitars and creating dark, simple, and stripped down Americana singer-songwriter folk. The result would end up being what has been deemed as The Rum Demos, which were the first collection of songs Man's Gin recorded and were just spread amongst the band’s close circle of friends.

Fast forward several years, Cobalt would put themselves back on the conscience of the extreme metal scene and would end up releasing two critically acclaimed albums, Eater Of Birds and Gin respectively, the latter being one of the most celebrated metal albums of 2009 from media and fans alike. By this time, Wunder had relocated to Brooklyn, NY to pursue the idea for Man's Gin even further and to expand upon the initial vision he had when Man's Gin was conceived five years ago in Colorado.

By recruiting two musicians (upright bass player Josh Lozano, also of industrial band INSWARM and who is also the guitarist of JARBOE's live band, along with pianist/guitarist Scott Edward) to help round out Man's Gin to more of a proper line-up, Wunder along with Lozano and Edward began incorporating more instruments into the sound picture by now adding drums, upright bass, piano, and electric guitars to help take the Man's Gin sound to the next stage. Songs were written, built upon, and then would inevitably be conjured onto tape within Colin Marston’s (KRALLICE, GORGUTS, DYSRHTHMIA etc.) Thousand Caves studios during three consecutive weeks of labor and uncertainty this past January.

The result that would end up becoming Smiling Dogs is a moving musical pilgrimage reminiscent of the vibe of such acts as WOVEN HAND, DEADBOY & THE ELEPHANT MEN, DAX RIGGS’ solo stuff, 16 HORSEPOWER, ALICE IN CHAINS, and Nebraska era BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.

With a singer-songwriter approach that also dabbles with southern rock and naturally Americana folk, Smiling Dogs is a journey through the dark heart of America’s desolate, barren, and ghostly wastelands.

To be released late August through Profound Lore Records, tracklisting for Smiling Dogs (artwork pictured) is as follows:

'Smiling Dogs'

'Free'

'Stone On My Head'

'Solid Gold Telephone'

'Nuclear Ambition Part 1'

'Nuclear Ambition Part 2'

'The Death Of Jimmy Sturgis'

'Hate.Money.Love.Woman.'

'Doggamn'

Listen to the title track below:

'Smiling Dogs'

In other Erik Wunder related news, Cobalt have begun the process of writing their follow-up to Gin.