Thursday Signs New Deal With Epitaph

Veteran rock outfit Thursday has signed a new deal with Epitaph, which will release the band's fifth album in spring 2009. The news was first reported by Alternative Press and confirmed by reps for the band. 

Thursday broke through with its 2001 Victory debut, "Full Collapse," which has sold 380,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan. After a contentious split with the Chicago indie, the band signed with Island and released the albums "War All the Time" (2003) and "A City by the Light Divided" (2006). 

Having patched up relations with Victory, Thursday returned to the label last year for a one-off rarities/live compilation, "Kill the House Lights." The group will issue a split single with Envy Nov. 4 via Temporary Residence Ltd. 

"It's a great feeling to have a label owner push you to explore the most experimental and challenging aspects of your band's music instead of dissuading you," says Thursday frontman Geoff Rickly of Epitaph, which of late has snapped up fellow ex-major label acts New Found Glory and Story Of The Year.