SPILL MUSIC PREMIERE: THE JOY THIEVES – “NO ANCHOR” (FEAT. CHRIS CONNELLY)

THE JOY THIEVES – “NO ANCHOR” (FEAT. CHRIS CONNELLY)

A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE

The Joy Thieves return with another explosive statement, teaming up with industrial rock icon Chris Connelly (Fini Tribe, Revolting Cocks, Ministry, Pigface) for their new single “No Anchor.” As anticipation builds for their upcoming album Apocalypse Pending, the Chicago-based collective continues to sharpen its edge, delivering a track that feels both urgent and unrelenting. Known for their collaborative, ever-evolving lineup, the group taps into Connelly’s unmistakable vocal presence to amplify the song’s bleak yet compelling vision.

Following a high-energy April marked by the release of ”The Wrong End of Your Rifle” and its striking visual counterpart, The Joy Thieves are keeping momentum on their side. “No Anchor” serves as the second preview of Apocalypse Pending, due out June 5 via Armalyte Industries. The track dives into the psychological toll of modern isolation, exploring how disconnection can erode empathy and ethical grounding. With Connelly at the helm vocally, the band captures a society drifting further from any sense of moral stability.

From a critical standpoint, “No Anchor” is less a song and more a controlled collapse. The composition feels intentionally unstable, with jagged, off-balance guitar lines that spiral further away from familiarity as the track unfolds. There’s no comfortable refrain to latch onto—just a growing sense of unease that mirrors its thematic core. Connelly’s voice cuts through the chaos like a warning siren, equal parts commanding and haunted. It’s a relentless, slow-burn descent that refuses resolution—and that’s exactly the point. This is the sound of a world unmoored and unapologetic, spiraling into the void with style.

At the band’s core is the production duo of Dan Milligan and James Scott (a.k.a. Joy Thieves Productions), who have cultivated a project that thrives on collaboration. They’ve assembled a sprawling network of artists spanning industrial, rock, punk, hip-hop, and experimental scenes. Contributors included (but are not limited to) members of Ministry, Stabbing Westward, The Rollins Band, Killing Joke, Pigface, RevCo, PIG, David Bowie, Machines of Loving Grace, Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM, Foetus, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Nitzer Ebb, Die Krupps and more.

Since joining Armalyte Industries in 2018, the group has steadily built a reputation for ambitious, genre-defying releases. Apocalypse Pending continues that trajectory, crafted at at Populist Recording + Mastering and shaped entirely in-house. Milligan’s approach to “No Anchor” highlights the band’s attention to sonic storytelling—his use of shifting, unresolved riffs was designed to evoke discomfort, reinforcing the song’s themes of instability and decline.

This latest chapter also builds on a creative process rooted in reinterpretation and reinvention. The album’s sessions began with Milligan revisiting classic hip-hop breakbeats, updating them with modern production techniques. That foundation carried into earlier single “The Wrong End of Your Rifle,” and continues here, where rhythmic experimentation meets industrial grit. Despite its global roster of contributors, the project retains a distinctly Chicago spirit—grounded in industrial tradition while constantly pushing beyond it.

The Joy Thieves stand apart not just for their sound, but for the way they create it—drawing from a vast pool of collaborators to build something that feels both collective and deeply personal. “No Anchor” is another bold step forward, capturing the tension of a fractured world while forging a path through it. It’s a reminder that even in chaos, there’s creativity—and sometimes, the most unsteady ground produces the most unforgettable music.

“No Anchor” is available from digital music platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp with the Apocalypse Pending album to follow on June 5th.

CREDITS

“No Anchor” written by Chris Connelly & Dan Milligan
“The Wrong End of Your Rifle” written by Chris Connelly, Dan Milligan, Derek Christopher, Dee J Nelson
Produced, engineered & mixed by Joy Thieves Productions
at Populist Recording + Mastering, Wheaton, IL
Mastered by James Scott at Populist Recording + Mastering
Additional production by:
Derek Christopher at Penfield Studios
Mark Pistel at Room 5 Studios
Jeff Harris at JH Studios
Steven Archer at House of Wolves
Dee J Nelson at DJN Music Studio
Jane Jensen at Autozen Music
DJ Darryl Hell at HellLab Studios
Art direction by Destiny Justic Scott
Original artwork by Charlie Athanas for Burning City
Video by Joel Lopez at Lumbra Productions
Released via Armalyte Industries
Artist studio photos by Derick Smith
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR

Also dive into the first single off their forthcoming album:

The Joy Thieves
[Single]
(Armalyte Industries)
Release Date: May 5, 2026

Artist Links

Background Photo Credit: Derick Smith