Stoneburner, which is the solo project of Ego Likeness' Steven Archer, has announced their signing to COP International Records today.

The artist will unveil their new studio album Apex Predator later this year. The record is being produced by John Fryer (Nine Inch Nails, Depeche Mode). This is the follow-up to Stoneburner’s 2019 studio album Technology Implies Belligerence. When it comes to the signing, Archer said:

“I am very excited to sign to COP International Records. I’ve been in this game a long time and I really appreciate how forward-thinking the label is — they are running their business exactly the way I would in the current climate, focusing on developing a small group of quality and hand-picked artists. I’m very proud to be among that group!”

COP International Records founder Christian Petke stated:

"I'm so thrilled to have Stoneburner on our roster. Steven inspires me as it feels he has picked up the torch for industrial music's origins, a time when the genre's lineage to punk was apparent and bands really took a stand. The events of the last year have brought us full circle and Stoneburner has used that as creative momentum, combining the raw noise and anger of industrial music with lyrics that speak of a world that is rather dark and ever-shifting, real, and sometimes outright scary. There is a burning passion in his heart and music and I find that incredibly attractive. I can’t wait to see what Steven and John Fryer cook up together, but know it will be something that will hit you like a ton of bricks."

2021 is already an eventful year for Archer, who is nominated for a Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Graphic Novel with The Masque of the Red Death.