New York City noise rock veterans Unsane are shining a spotlight on one of the most pivotal records in their catalog. Their fourth studio album, Occupational Hazard, has returned in a newly remastered edition, reviving a defining era in the band’s evolution where punishing noise rock collided with elements of punk, metal, and industrial music.
Originally released in January 1998 through Relapse Records, the album’s refreshed edition arrived on February 4, 2026 via the band’s own imprint, Lamb Unlimited. The reissue revisits a moment when Unsane sharpened their sound into an uncompromising blend of distorted guitars, relentless basslines, and pummeling rhythms.
The road to the album began with a six-song demo session at AmRep Studios in Minneapolis, before the band relocated to Excello Studios in Brooklyn, New York, where they recorded the full album with renowned engineer Billy Anderson.
Frontman Chris Spencer remembers the creative energy surrounding the sessions: “The writing process for Occupational Hazard was great. I think the one real defining factor to this very creatively rewarding period of time in our career was that we knew what we were doing in terms of songwriting, and we were able to take our time while constantly playing.”
Once recording wrapped, the album was mixed by legendary producer and Barkmarket guitarist David Sardy. Spencer says Sardy‘s production style and access to a high-end studio helped shape the album’s final form.
“I’ve always liked what he did with his own band and in the studio, and I thought that it would work well for what we were doing,” Spencer said. “Dave also had access to a really good studio in Midtown Manhattan, so we decided to take advantage of his great production work and that space.”
Now, nearly three decades later, Unsane are celebrating the album’s legacy on stage. The band has already begun rolling out European and UK dates centered around Occupational Hazard, with a North American run planned for later this fall, giving longtime fans the chance to experience the album’s crushing noise rock intensity in a live setting once again. Get your tickets here.
9/4 San Antonio TX Paper Tiger Small Room
9/5 Dallas TX Dusty’s
9/7 Louisville KY Portal
9/8 St Louis MO Off Broadway Night Club
9/9 Kansas City MO Record Bar
9/10 Omaha NE Reverb Lounge
9/11 Denver CO HQ
9/12 Laramie WY Cowboy Bar
9/14 Tucson AZ Club Congress
9/15 San Diego CA Casbah
9/16 Los Angeles CA Lodge Room
9/17 San Francisco CA Bottom of the Hill
9/18 Portland OR Mississippi Studios
9/19 Seattle WA El Corazon
9/20 Vancouver BC Rickshaw Theatre
9/22 Calgary AB Palomino
9/23 Saskatoon SK Black Cat Tavern
9/24 Winnipeg MB Times Changed club
9/25 Minneapolis MN 7th Street Entry
9/26 Milwaukee WI X-Ray Arcade
9/27 Chicago IL Beat Kitchen
9/29 Toronto ON The Garrison
9/30 Montreal QC Le Ritz
10/1 Cambridge MA Middle East Upstairs
10/2 Troy NY No Fun
10/3 Brooklyn NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/4 Washington DC Pearl Street Warehouse
10/6 Atlanta GA EARL
10/7 Birmingham AL The Saturn
10/8 New Orleans LA Santos Bar
10/9 Houston TX White Oak Upstairs Stage
10/10 Austin TX Far Out Lounge
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